Switzerland has expressed readiness to host a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to discuss the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. According to Swiss daily Le Temps, the offer to mediate such high-level discussions is on the table, though Swiss authorities emphasized that they will not take the initiative unless officially requested.
Nicolas Bideau, a spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Ministry, confirmed Switzerland’s stance, citing its commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts for peace in Ukraine. “Following the Burgenstock summit, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States were regularly informed of our readiness to assist in any peace settlement negotiations,” Bideau stated.
The prospect of a Trump-Putin meeting comes at a critical juncture. On January 10, President-elect Trump announced that preparations for a meeting with the Russian president were underway, highlighting the urgent need to resolve the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin’s willingness to meet Trump without preconditions, signaling a potential thaw in U.S.-Russia relations amidst tensions over Ukraine.
The Burgenstock Forum, which took place in Switzerland on June 15-16, 2024, was an earlier attempt to address the Ukrainian crisis. However, the forum was widely criticized, particularly by Russia, which was not invited to participate. Many key nations, including Armenia, India, and South Africa, abstained from signing the summit’s communique, and a significant number of UN delegates opted not to attend.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the forum as a “total failure,” arguing that such conferences fail to foster meaningful progress toward lasting peace.
Switzerland’s reputation as a neutral mediator in global conflicts positions it as a prime candidate to host the proposed meeting. If the summit materializes, it could mark a pivotal step in addressing the Ukrainian conflict, offering a platform for dialogue between two of the world’s most influential leaders.
For now, the world watches closely as diplomatic channels are explored, hoping for a breakthrough in one of the most pressing geopolitical crises of recent years.
