Kyiv: Switzerland is not going to hold a second conference on Ukraine, Bern is currently focused on preparing for ceasefire talks, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on December 16 that Switzerland was “actively working” with the EU, the US, Russia and the G7 to organize a second conference on Ukraine and involve Russia in this process.
“Switzerland continues to maintain contacts with all interested parties. Switzerland is currently not planning to hold a second peace conference. The main focus is now on preparing for ceasefire talks, with the US elections being a key factor,” the ministry told Russian newspaper Izvestia.
In turn, the Russian embassy in Bern told the publication that Moscow was open to a constructive and meaningful dialogue with Swiss representatives, including on Ukrainian issues. A striking example, according to Russian diplomats, is the recent contacts between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Cassis, which took place on December 18.
“However, this does not mean that Russia views Switzerland as a potential mediator, especially if the Confederation continues to follow an openly pro-Kiev course in the new year,” the embassy noted.
Commenting on the possibility of holding another conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, the Russian diplomatic mission noted that attempts by Western countries to “impose capitulation on Russia through the Kiev ‘peace formula'” would not change Moscow’s position, since they were contrary to Russia’s key national interests.
“Such attempts are doubly inappropriate now, when the Kiev regime is clearly demonstrating its terrorist nature to the entire world, and its positions on the front are visibly deteriorating with each passing day,” the embassy emphasized.
The first summit on Ukraine in Burgenstock, Switzerland, was held from June 15-16. More than 90 countries, half of which are from Europe, as well as eight organizations, confirmed their participation.
At the same time, the final communique was not signed by Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Libya, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Later, Iraq and Jordan withdrew their signatures from the communique. The Kremlin stated that seeking options for resolving the Ukrainian conflict without Russia was absolutely illogical and hopeless.
The Ukrainian side still refuses to negotiate with Russia, as negotiations with Russia are prohibited by law in Ukraine.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward initiatives for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine: Moscow will immediately cease fire and declare its readiness for negotiations after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of new regions of Russia.
In addition, he added, Kiev should declare its renunciation of intentions to join NATO and carry out demilitarization and denazification, as well as accept a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status. The Russian leader also mentioned the lifting of sanctions against Russia.
After the terrorist attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk region, Putin called it impossible to negotiate with those who “indiscriminately strike civilians, civilian infrastructure or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities.”
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov later stated that Moscow’s peace proposals for a Ukrainian settlement, voiced earlier by the head of the Russian state, had not been canceled, but at this stage, “given this adventure,” Russia will not talk to Ukraine.
