Switzerland Applauds China-Brazil Peace Initiative for Ukraine, According to Reuters

By Emma Farge

GENEVA – Switzerland’s foreign affairs ministry expressed support on Saturday for a peace initiative led by China to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, indicating a notable shift in its stance regarding such diplomatic efforts.

As the war, sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, enters its third year, both parties to the conflict remain deeply divided on a path forward. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is seeking a "victory plan," while Russian President Vladimir Putin asserts that negotiations can only commence if Ukraine relinquishes significant territories and abandons its NATO aspirations.

Switzerland, known for its role as a neutral mediator, hosted a peace summit in June and participated in a meeting of 17 nations on Friday, conducted alongside the U.N. General Assembly. This meeting was led by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim.

Nicolas Bideau, the chief spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, stated that Switzerland attended the discussions as an observer and expressed support for this evolving diplomatic dynamic. He mentioned that Switzerland’s perspective on the peace plan, initially presented in May, has changed following the inclusion of a reference to the U.N. Charter, which emphasizes the commitment of nations to maintain peace.

"For us, this translates into a significant change in our view of these initiatives," Bideau noted, adding that a concrete diplomatic effort organized by the Sino-Brazilian coalition could be of interest to Switzerland.

Switzerland’s earlier peace summit in Buergenstock, which did not include Russian representatives, was perceived by some experts as a Western-led attempt to isolate Moscow, raising concerns about Switzerland potentially deviating from its longstanding neutrality.

Since then, diplomats indicate that Bern has been actively seeking a host for a follow-up summit, with "global South" nations viewed as primary candidates.