The Swiss president said on Monday that nearly 90 countries and organizations, half of them from Europe, have confirmed their attendance at the Swiss peace summit hosted by his country at the weekend. However, Russia will not be there.

Moscow was not invited, but it says it will not attend anyway because the conference relies on peace proposals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which Russia rejects.

President Viola Amherd told reporters in the Swiss capital, Bern, that the summit, on Saturday and Sunday, aims to chart a path towards a potential peace after about 28 months of Russian forces invading Ukraine and the war continuing.

He continued: '"This is not about propaganda. This is about the basis of the humanitarian aid provided by Switzerland, based on promoting peace (and) providing a platform to initiate dialogue."

The Swiss president stated that most participants will be senior leaders of the country, with about half of them representing at the state or governmental level, and a "handful" of organizations like the United Nations.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are expected to attend the summit at the Bürgenstock resort overlooking Lake Lucerne in the village of Oberrüti.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will also participate on behalf of the United States. National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, will join Harris as part of the U.S. delegation.

About 160 invitations have been sent, and Switzerland stated that it is not a "disappointment" for the Swiss government, which has announced less than 100 participants so far in the first phase of the peace process.

Swiss authorities said the final list of participants was expected by Friday, but major developing countries like Turkey, South Africa, and Brazil have not indicated whether they will attend. They said India will participate, but it is unclear at what level.

Brazil and China have stated that they will not participate unless both sides - including Russia - are at the table, according to Swiss officials. Beijing has been one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's strongest supporters since the war began, and it said that the criteria for its participation would be "difficult to meet."

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also addressed reporters, stating that Switzerland has repeatedly acknowledged that there cannot be a peace process without Russia. "The question is not whether Russia will be on board, the question is when."

He also stated that Switzerland is in regular contact with the authorities in Moscow regarding the conference.

Ukraine helped coordinate the summit, and Zelensky is expected to attend. Cassis said that Swiss officials had to balance considerations regarding whether Ukraine would attend if Russia was represented.

Zelensky has undertaken a diplomatic push to try to entice attendees to the summit. He has accused China and Russia of trying to undermine it. The Swiss-hosted conference follows the G7 summit in neighboring Italy.

Swiss officials say the conference aims to lay a path towards "lasting peace" in Ukraine, to achieve a "common understanding" on how to get there, and to set a "roadmap" on how to engage both sides in talks. Nuclear security, humanitarian aid, and food security are also on the summit's agenda.

Officials said that up to 4,000 military personnel will be deployed to provide security and air transport support, monitoring, and installing security barriers and barbed wire for the event, adding that an increase in cyberattacks in the lead-up to the summit had been noted, but details were not provided.

In a Swiss valley deep within a chain of mountainous hills where the resort lies, Swiss forces set up temporary helicopters in a grassy field surrounded by barbed wire on Monday in preparation for the summit while nearby, cowboys were tied up.