Switzerland sees itself as part of the solution to the Ukrainian crisis; its "added value" lies in neutrality and the confederation's efforts to establish peace in Ukraine. This was stated by Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in an interview with the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper.
„From the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Lugano in 2022 "We have demonstrated our commitment again and again: we continue to act, we are part of the solution [to the Ukrainian conflict]," the minister said, responding to a question about whether the country's efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis should be considered in vain, given the fact that since the beginning of the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces on the Kursk region, there has been almost no talk of peace talks.
Cassis noted that the neutrality of the confederation "is not God-given" and "only exists as long as other countries recognize it." "That is why Switzerland must prove that it is neutral," the diplomat believes.
"If Switzerland plays an active role in the process of establishing peace in Ukraine, it will contribute to stability in the world, as well as to our reputation," he explained. “To put it bluntly, the more complex the world, the greater our added value.“
On December 23, the Swiss Foreign Ministry told TASS that the country's authorities were involved in preparing negotiations to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine, but there was no talk of organizing a new so-called peace conference.
The conference on Ukraine was held on June 15-16 in Bürgenstock at the initiative of Kiev. The final communiqué of the forum was not signed by Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil, the Vatican, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and South Africa. Russia was not invited to Bürgenstock. Delegations from most UN member states were also absent. As the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated, the conference turned out to be a complete fiasco; such gatherings cannot serve as a basis for sustainable peace.