Unconfirmed Reports Suggest Possible Negotiation Discussion Between Putin and Zelensky in Moscow
In a surprising turn of events, Switzerland has offered to host peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This proposal comes amidst an ongoing conflict between the two nations, with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Putin in March 2023.
According to reports, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis confirmed that Switzerland would grant Putin immunity if he travels there for negotiations. This offer aligns with a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested Geneva as a likely venue for a Putin-Zelensky summit, describing Switzerland as a neutral country suitable for hosting such talks.
During high-level discussions with European and US leaders, French President Macron emphasized the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine as part of the negotiation framework. Swiss Foreign Minister Cassis stated that Switzerland is "more than ready" to host the trilateral talks.
Russian President Putin reportedly proposed peace talks with President Zelensky during a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday. However, according to BFMTV and an anonymous source, Putin mentioned Moscow during the call, but President Zelensky and other European leaders in the White House at the time replied no.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that the Putin and Zelensky meeting should happen within the next two weeks. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that any meeting would have to be planned "step by step, gradually, starting from the expert level and then going through all the necessary stages," according to Politico.
It remains unclear whether Putin will embrace the suggestion of hosting the summit in a neutral country due to the ICC arrest warrant. The ICC, to which Switzerland is a signatory, accused Putin of unlawfully deporting and transferring thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia, a war crime under international law.
Switzerland and Austria have both expressed readiness to protect Putin from arrest during these peace talks to facilitate dialogue. The proposed peace talks come as a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with both parties seeking a resolution to the ongoing crisis.
[1] European Pravda, "Switzerland Ready to Host Trilateral Talks between Putin, Zelensky, and Macron," [link] [2] Sky News, "German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Calls for Putin-Zelensky Meeting within Two Weeks," [link] [3] BFMTV, "Putin Proposes Peace Talks with Zelensky in Moscow during Call with Trump," [link] [4] Politico, "Lavrov: Any Meeting with Zelensky Would Have to be Planned Gradually," [link]
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