Switzerland says Putin would not be arrested if he came for peace talks
The article reports that Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stated russian President Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he came to Switzerland for peace talks,despite an outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. switzerlands neutral status and Geneva’s role as the european headquarters of the UN allow it to offer such “immunity” for diplomatic negotiations. This statement comes amid efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump to arrange a trilateral meeting involving Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and himself, as well as potentially broader talks with European leaders. Other European officials, including French President emmanuel Macron and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, have also recommended Switzerland, specifically Geneva, as a potential venue for peace talks. Though, Putin has not yet agreed to meet with Zelensky, with Russian officials emphasizing the need for careful planning of any high-level contacts.
Switzerland says Putin would not be arrested if he came for peace talks
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be granted “immunity” and not detained, despite a warrant for his arrest, if peace talks were held in Switzerland.
The statement comes after President Donald Trump met on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House, during which Trump called Putin. In a later post to social media, Trump said he was attempting to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, a trilateral meeting with himself, and then a multilateral talk with European leaders.
Cassis said Switzerland could host this type of summit “despite the arrest warrant against Putin because of our special role and Geneva’s role as the European headquarters of the U.N.”
“We are ready for such a meeting, and we also thank you for the trust placed in us. We have always signaled our willingness, but it naturally depends on the will of the major powers,” Cassis said, according to a translation.
Putin has been under an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court since 2023 for war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Other European leaders also suggested that Russian and Ukrainian officials could meet in Switzerland. French President Emmanuel Macron pushed for Geneva as a host, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani seemingly agreed, saying Geneva “could be the right venue.”
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Switzerland is known for its long-standing policy of neutrality in foreign wars and conflicts. The country has not been involved in any wars in over two centuries.
Still, Putin has yet to agree to a meeting with Zelensky. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday, “Any contacts involving top officials must be prepared with the utmost care.”
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