A scenic 20-minute drive from Lucerne, a bustling tourist city in central Switzerland, leads to a luxurious resort nestled in the Alps with stunning views of Lake Luzern from high above. This grand hotel resort, the largest integrated modern facility in the country, was rebuilt in 2014 but traces its roots back to the 18th century. Over the years, it has welcomed celebrities and world leaders alike. Jawaharlal Nehru and Jimmy Carter have enjoyed holidays here, and Audrey Hepburn even got married in a chapel on the premises. The resort has also served as a venue for peace talks and important diplomatic gatherings.
The annual Bilderberg Meetings, held under Chatham House rules to encourage dialogue between Europe and North America in the 1950s, had their beginnings at this very resort. In 2004, Turkish and Greek Cypriot negotiators met here to discuss EU accession issues. In the lead-up to the Summit on Peace in Ukraine on June 15-16, the resort has been abuzz with preparations, including heightened security measures such as barbed wire, fencing, and a significant deployment of troops.
A challenging summit
Amidst unpredictable weather patterns of sunshine and rain, the resort is gearing up to host numerous world leaders, including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European heads of state. Despite the high-profile attendees, notable absences such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia and US President Joe Biden raise doubts about the summit’s effectiveness in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conference aims to lay the groundwork for a future peace process, building on previous consultations by National Security Advisers in various locations.
Switzerland, known for its policy of neutrality, is an ideal setting for the summit given its history of hosting peace negotiations and mediating conflicts. However, questions have been raised about Switzerland’s neutrality in light of recent actions taken against Russia, despite its traditional stance of non-involvement in wars between states.
The absence of Russia from the summit has also affected India’s level of participation, with senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor representing the country instead of high-level political figures. The conference is expected to address the implementation of existing peace frameworks for Ukraine, including the Minsk Agreements.
Smita Sharma is an independent journalist based in Delhi.
