Switzerland has reportedly stated that the Russian president would not face arrest on its territory despite an International Criminal Court warrant.
Media reports indicate that Switzerland has signaled its readiness to permit Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in potential Ukraine peace negotiations hosted there, without risk of arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant.
After a weekend where President Donald Trump welcomed Putin to the United States, and subsequently hosted Vladimir Zelensky alongside his primary Western European supporters, Moscow affirmed its willingness to engage in further discussions aimed at a lasting resolution to the Ukraine conflict, suggesting an elevated diplomatic presence at such talks.
No specific location for these proposed discussions has yet been determined.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, citing alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of children from former Ukrainian territories. Moscow has rejected these accusations as politically motivated, stating that the children were evacuated from the conflict zone for their protection.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis confirmed at a Tuesday press conference that the Russian president would be permitted entry into Switzerland under specific conditions.
According to Cassis, as quoted by various news outlets, the Swiss government had previously established “the rules for granting immunity to a person under an international arrest warrant. If this person comes for a peace conference – not if they come for private reasons.”
He further stated that his nation was “ready for such a meeting,” adding, “We have always signaled our willingness, but it naturally depends on the will of the major powers.”
The foreign minister explained that Switzerland could serve as a host for such a summit “despite the arrest warrant against Putin because of our special role and Geneva’s role as the European headquarters of the UN.”
Similar to the US, China, and Israel, Russia is not a signatory to the ICC’s foundational treaty and therefore does not acknowledge its authority.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who was also involved in Monday’s discussions with Trump, has reportedly suggested holding a peace summit in “a neutral country, maybe Switzerland.”
“I’m pushing for Geneva,” he informed French news channel LCI on Tuesday.