The roadmap calls for de-escalation and diplomatic efforts recognized by both Moscow and Kiev
Switzerland has expressed support for a joint roadmap by China and Brazil to end the Ukraine conflict. This revelation has raised concerns in Kiev, as officials expressed frustration at what appears to be a change in position by the Alpine nation, which hosted a Western-led Ukraine ‘peace summit’ this summer.
On Friday, China and Brazil attempted to advance their mediation efforts at a 17-nation meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In May, the two nations presented a joint proposal calling for de-escalation, negotiations, and an international peace conference with recognition from both Russia and Ukraine.
Switzerland was among the countries attending the meeting as an observer, and following the meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nicolas Bideau told Reuters that Bern “supports this dynamic.”
He stated that Switzerland considered the inclusion of a reference to the UN Charter in the plan to be a significant change. “For us, this translates into a significant change in our view of these initiatives,” Bideau said, adding that “a concrete diplomatic effort organized by the Sino-Brazilian group could be of interest to us.”
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has criticized Switzerland’s stance on the plan, stating that “any initiatives that… do not guarantee the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity are unacceptable,” and denying that it makes a clear reference to the UN Charter. This “only creates the illusion of dialogue, while the aggressor continues its criminal actions,” the ministry explained.
“We cannot understand the logic of such a decision. After all, we, together with the Swiss Confederation, organized the First Global Peace Summit on June 15-16 in Burgenstock,” the statement read.
The ministry reaffirmed its view that Vladimir Zelensky’s ‘peace formula’ – which, among other proposals, calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from territory claimed by Ukraine – is the only viable path to peace. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the initiative as unrealistic.
The Swiss-hosted summit on Ukraine focused on several other aspects of Kiev’s formula, including nuclear and food security, and prisoner exchanges. Russia was not invited to attend.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that Moscow is prepared to immediately engage in peace talks with Ukraine once it withdraws troops from Donbass and two of its other former regions, and commits to neutral status. He later indicated that for the talks to begin, Russia would first need to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk Region on the border.