Rishi Sunak lands in Switzerland for Ukraine peace summit

The occasion is likely to be Mr Sunak’s last international engagement before polling day on 4 July.

Rishi Sunak has arrived in Switzerland for what is likely to be his last international engagement before the UK general election.

The prime minister is attending a Ukraine peace summit – along with 50 other world leaders – at a secluded resort near Lake Lucerne.

Addressing the event, Mr Sunak warned Russia’s allies that they are “on the wrong side of history”.

He said: “Putin has no interest in a genuine peace. He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate.”

The event is the largest world leader gathering focused solely on Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.

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Mr Sunak met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reiterate the UK’s support for the country and re-emphasise that any peace deal should be on his terms.

The meeting comes a day after the prime minister arrived back from the G7 summit in Italy and at the midway point of the general election campaign.

With just under three weeks until polling day, the Conservatives continue to lag in the polls meaning this could be the last overseas summit Mr Sunak attends as prime minister.

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Recent months have seen Sir Keir Starmer work to increase his own presence on the international stage, attending the COP climate summit in Dubai and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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The Labour leader was also pictured speaking to world leaders including President Zelenskyy at D-Day commemorations in France last week.

Mr Sunak was criticised for leaving the events early and subsequently apologised.

The prime minister also attended the Trooping the Colour parade and is expected back in the UK on Saturday evening to continue campaigning.