ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will not be participating in a Ukraine peace summit being hosted by Switzerland due to a “host of factors,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said on Thursday.

The summit, being held in the alpine resort of Lucerne on Saturday and Sunday, aims to gather support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace proposals, including the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

While around 90 states and organizations have registered to take part in the summit, several other countries, including China, have shown unwillingness to join the peace conference in the absence of Moscow, which was not invited.

Islamabad’s decision to skip the conference is being viewed by many as a diplomatic move to maintain neutrality on Russia’s war on Ukraine, especially since longtime ally China and Moscow are also not attending it.

“Pakistan received an invitation from Switzerland for the Conference, which is being held from 15th to 16th of June,” Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly briefing on Thursday.

“However, due to a host of factors, including scheduling challenges, Pakistan is not participating in this conference.”

Pakistan has tried to stay neutral since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in Feb 2022, though Islamabad has raised concern and urged the world powers to mediate the crisis.

Pakistan has had good relations with Ukraine and has purchased weapons systems from Kyiv in the past. However, the war on Ukraine came amid Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen ties with Russia. Moscow has also provided discounted crude oil to energy-deficient Pakistan in recent years.

Baloch said Pakistan supported universal and consistent application of UN Charter principles, including non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, pacific settlement of disputes, and equal security for all states.

“We reiterate our call for immediate cessation of hostilities and stress the need for diplomacy and dialogue for an early negotiated end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” she added.