Switzerland has announced it would grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity if he appears in the country for a peace summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
Switzerland Readiness to Host Zelensky and Putin
On Tuesday, August 19, after meetings involving Trump, Zelensky, NATO leaders and European heads of state in the United States, Switzerland signaled its willingness to grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity should he travel to the country for mediation talks on Ukraine. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis confirmed the offer, noting that Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in March 2023 for alleged war crimes, including the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. Cassis explained that Switzerland has criteria for granting immunity to individuals with such warrants: if a person is summoned for a peace conference rather than personal reasons, they may receive immunities. He also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that the meeting be held in Geneva, praising Switzerland for the trust placed in it.
Proposed Meeting Between Zelensky and Putin
European leaders and commentators have increasingly called for a summit between the leaders of warring states to discuss potential peace, noting that it would be the first personal encounter between Presidents Zelensky and Putin since 2019. The United States reportedly was involved in discussions, with former President Trump reportedly talking with Putin ahead of a trilateral meeting involving European leaders. The remarks came after Trump announced on Truth Social that preparations were underway for a bilateral meeting between the two heads of state.
Russia’s Position
Russia has not rejected the idea, even though Putin earlier in May declined a proposal to meet with Zelensky in Turkey. Kremlin adviser Yuri Usakowski stated that the two politicians had discussed “raising the level of representatives” after negotiating prisoner exchanges in Istanbul. German and French leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron, viewed the plan positively, describing it as “more than a hypothesis, it is a collective will” and supporting Geneva as a neutral venue.
Sources
BBC, IAR
Kaynaklar: Gazeta,