Meeting Zelensky and Putin: Switzerland is ready to "protect" the Kremlin leader from arrest - the media

According to Barron's, Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignaczis Cassis confirmed that Putin would be allowed to come to the country to participate in a peace conference under certain conditions. Last year, the Swiss government approved the "rules for giving immunity to persons on an international arrest warrant", in particular for those who attend international peaceful meetings.

In particular, French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the possibility of holding a peaceful summit between Putin and President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky in the "neutral country, possibly Switzerland. " He emphasized the advantages of Geneva as a place of negotiation.

Ignaczis Cassis noted that Switzerland is ready to organize such meetings, based on his experience in the military sphere, but added that after joining European sanctions against Russia, Moscow's desire to meet in Switzerland decreased. The minister stressed that he has repeatedly confirmed his readiness for negotiations during contact with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The publication also notes that Switzerland already had a precedent of Russia's participation in international events despite sanctions, in particular at the sixth World Conference of Parliament Speakers in Geneva last month, when the President of the Upper Chamber of the Federal Assembly of Russia, Valentina Matvienko took part in the event. The country's authorities explained this in accordance with the law and international agreements.

The recent bilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul, which remains more friendly to Moscow by the city, contrary to Turkey's membership in NATO. Putin last visited Geneva at a summit with US President Joe Biden in June 2021. It should be reminded that the International Criminal Court has arrested Vladimir Putin in absentia for war crimes in Ukraine.

Because of this, the search for a neutral country to meet with US President Donald Trump is complicated - a number of states, including Switzerland, Austria, France and the United Kingdom, ratified the Roman Statute and can theoretically arrest Putin. Even the historical platforms for summits, like Potsdam or Helsinki, are excluded. Focus also wrote that the possibility of holding a tripartite meeting of Vladimir Zelensky, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Rome or Geneva is being discussed.