Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Swiss expect ‘long and complex’ reconstruction process in Ukraine

Foreign Minister Cassis talking to journalists
Cassis says it is important to bring the parties concerned to table to launch a political and diplomatic process while the war is still ongoing. © Keystone - Ats/Ti-press

President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis says the planned Ukraine conference is Switzerland’s contribution for stability in Europe.

Cassis said the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2022) was not meant as a donor event but as a step towards reforms of the state, including good governance, decentralisation, the separation of powers and the fight against corruption.

Speaking at a news conference in Bellinzona on Monday, Cassis said the reconstruction process would not be easy.

“The war is still raging [in Ukraine] but we know that the time will come for reconstruction, and this will take a long time and be complex,” the Keystone-SDA news agency quotes him as saying.

It will need a broad political and diplomatic process, he added.

The conference on July 4 and July 5 in the city of Lugano was planned long before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Zelensky

High-level delegations from about 40 countries and 20 international organisations have been invited to attend.

It is not clear yet whether the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, will attend the event in person or virtually, according to the Swiss foreign ministry.

The conference is due to address ”the priorities, methods and principles of reconstruction[…] and underline the broad support of international partners [….],” the ministry statementExternal link said.

Switzerland was asked to host the conference as a “long-standing partner of Ukraine in politics, business and culture,” it added.

External Content

News

a doctor retrieves an egg with help from an ultrasound scan and a needle inserted into a woman who is laying on her back with legs held open. nurses assist in the background.

More

Swiss are open to assisted reproduction

This content was published on A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.

Read more: Swiss are open to assisted reproduction
View onto the Loetschberg Base Tunnel's southern ramp, pictured from a BLS Bombardier Transportation low-floor multiple unit named "Loetschberger" of the type RABe 535, driving from Spiez, Canton of Berne, to Brig, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, on May 16, 2017.

More

Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted

This content was published on One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.

Read more: Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR