Switzerland cannot play the role of mediator in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, because it has adhered to the anti-Russian sanctions. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, reported February 25 on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Switzerland, which has joined the West’s illegal unilateral anti-Russian sanctions against Russia, in our view, is no longer a neutral state and cannot claim any mediating role in the resolution of the crisis. Ukraine, including providing its platform,” Zakharova said. .
Swiss authorities began imposing sanctions against Russia in March 2022, following the European Union, aligning them with “pan-European” sanctions. The country’s authorities also froze $7.9 billion in financial assets linked to Russia.
On February 23, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in an interview with Le Temps newspaper that in Geneva “not at the highest level” and in an atmosphere of “maximum discretion” negotiations on the situation in Ukraine are taking place. He did not disclose further details about this process. Cassis also recalled that Moscow had stressed that “Switzerland has lost its neutrality”.
Assistant to the President of Russia Vladimir Medinsky, commenting on the words of Cassis, declared RIA Novosti that, according to its data, “Russian diplomats, high-level administration and government officials or any other level do not conduct any negotiations (with Ukraine)”.
After the outbreak of hostilities, Russia and Ukraine intensified negotiations. The last official meeting of the parties took place in March 2022 in Istanbul, where the Russian and Ukrainian delegations discussed the ceasefire and the status of Ukraine. Subsequently, the negotiation process was effectively interrupted. Turkey is considered the main mediator in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. With the mediation of Ankara, Moscow and Kiev, in particular, managed to reach agreements on a “grain agreement”.
