Colombian president cancels Peace Summit visit over bias concerns
15 June 2024 17:09
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, cancelled his participation in the peace summit in Switzerland regarding the situation in Ukraine. As reported by Colombian media, the leader stated that the meeting favours the escalation of the conflict instead of its resolution.
According to Gustavo Petro, the peace summit that commenced on Saturday in Switzerland is not "a free forum to discuss the path to peace between Russia and Ukraine,” and its "conclusions have already been predetermined," reported the newspaper "El Tiempo."
"I am cancelling my trip to the meeting in Switzerland and ask Europe to talk how to end the war, not prolong it," he stated.
The President of Colombia ends his visit to Sweden on Saturday. He added that he plans to return to the country the same day.
He was supposed to meet with Zelensky
According to the initial plan, the President of Colombia was supposed to meet with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Switzerland. The Infobae portal provided this information.
Zelensky announced on Friday that one hundred countries and international organizations would participate in the conference in Switzerland. He emphasized that they are all united by the common goal of "just and lasting peace."
Refused to condemn Russia
It is worth noting that the President of Colombia, for a long time, refused to condemn Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. However, in June 2023, after the Russian missile attack on a civilian target in Kramatorsk, which injured three Colombians, he ordered a formal protest to be sent to Moscow.
