Switzerland said it registered increased cyber attacks and disinformation in the run-up to a summit this weekend that aims to create a pathway for peace in Ukraine.

The government said this on Monday.

According to the government, ninety states and organisations have registered to participate in the talks to be held at Lucerne from June 15 to 16, roughly half from South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Russia has not been invited, but the Swiss government said the talks aimed to “jointly define a roadmap’’ on involving it and Ukraine in a future peace process.

Swiss President Viola Amherd told a press conference cyber attacks had increased in recent weeks. She was asked how her government was addressing personal attacks against her in Russian media that were publicised in Switzerland.

“We haven’t summoned the ambassador,” she said. “That’s how I wanted it because the disinformation campaign is so extreme that one can see that little of it reflects reality.”

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said there was a clear “interest” in disrupting the talks but avoided saying who was behind the attacks when asked if Russia was involved.

Switzerland has agreed to host the summit at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and has tried to drum up support among countries that have better relations with Moscow than leading Western powers.

Russia has dismissed the summit as a waste of time. Switzerland says Russia was not invited to participate because it signalled no interest in attending.

Mr Cassis reiterated that Russia must be part of the peace process.

Its absence had encouraged Moscow’s powerful allies, such as China, to say that peace talks are pointless unless both Russia and Ukraine participate.

Mr Cassis said the summit at the Buergenstock resort is due to discuss areas of international concern, such as the need for nuclear and food security, freedom of navigation, and humanitarian issues, such as prisoners of war exchanges.

Swiss officials said Turkey and India would participate, though it was not clear at what level. Whether Brazil and South Africa would take part remained unclear.

Switzerland said that roughly half the countries taking part will be represented by heads of state or government.

Mr Cassis said the summit will conclude with a final declaration, “ideally” backed unanimously.

It also aims to set out the next step in the peace process.

When asked who might succeed Switzerland in the next phase, Cassis said he could not give details.

He noted that efforts were underway for something “outside the western part of the world”. He said doing so could boost the inclusion of the “Global South and Arabian countries” in the process.

(dpa/NAN)