Latest news with #Ignazio Cassis
Japan Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Switzerland and Austria say they would host ICC-wanted Putin for peace talks
Switzerland and Austria said Tuesday that they would host Russian President Vladimir Putin if he came for talks on peace in Ukraine, despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. French President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of a peace summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy being held in Europe, in "a neutral country, maybe Switzerland." "I'm pushing for Geneva," he said in an interview aired earlier Tuesday on French news channel LCI. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a press conference that, under certain circumstances, Putin would be allowed to set foot in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss government defined "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," Cassis said. Cassis said Switzerland was fully prepared to host such a meeting and highlighted the militarily-neutral country's long expertise in the field. However, he pointed out that Russia had gone cold on Switzerland, which has decided to match the sanctions imposed by the European Union since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In nearby Austria, the chancellery said should peace talks take place on its soil, it would get in touch with the ICC "to make it possible for President Putin to attend." Chancellor Christian Stocker said he had already offered Vienna as a possible venue for negotiations to Zelenskyy during the Ukrainian president's visit in June. "Our capital has a long tradition as a place of dialogue," he said in a statement, evoking Vienna hosting several international organizations. Austria — a member of the EU but not NATO — sought close ties with Russia in the past, but relations deteriorated after Moscow invaded Ukraine. Switzerland permitted Russia's participation at a gathering of parliamentary speakers last month, with Valentina Matviyenko, president of the upper house of Russia's Federal Assembly, attending despite international sanctions. Switzerland said it acted in accordance with law and international agreements. Swiss authorities may authorize exemptions from travel restrictions, "notably if the person is traveling to participate in an international conference," a Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Putin is wanted by the ICC for the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. Putin last visited Geneva for his June 2021 summit with then-president Joe Biden. The most recent bilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul. Turkey is considered more friendly by Moscow, despite its membership in NATO. Turkey is not an ICC member.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Switzerland Ready to Offer Putin Immunity as Part of Peace Talks
Switzerland would grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity from arrest as part of a proposal to host peace talks on the war in Ukraine. The comments from Switzerland's foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, come after Trump urged Putin to make plans for a bilateral summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump met with Putin in Alaska last week, part of the US president's effort to end the war, and followed that with talks with Zelenskiy and European allies on Monday.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Switzerland ready to host Putin for any Geneva peace talks, minister says
ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Switzerland would be ready to host Russian President Vladimir Putin for any peace talks on Ukraine despite an existing arrest warrant for him from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Tuesday. Neutral Switzerland is a signatory to the ICC but Cassis told Swiss national broadcaster SRF that provided Putin was coming for peace purposes, the country could receive him. "This has to do with our diplomatic role, with international Geneva as (the European) headquarters of the United Nations," Cassis told the broadcaster. French President Emmanuel Macron mooted Geneva as a potential location for Ukraine peace talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after a meeting between U.S. President Trump, Zelenskiy and European leaders in Washington. The ICC issued its warrant in 2023, just over a year after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, accusing Putin of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Ukraine war: Switzerland offers Putin ‘immunity' for peace talks
Switzerland would grant Russian President Vladimir Putin immunity if he came to the country for talks on peace in Ukraine , despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant, it said on Tuesday. Advertisement Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a press conference that, under certain circumstances, he would be allowed to set foot in Switzerland. Last year, the Swiss government defined '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', Cassis said. As a member of the International Criminal Court , Switzerland would be legally obliged to arrest Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of a peace summit between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky being held in Europe , in 'a neutral country, maybe Switzerland'. Advertisement 'I'm pushing for Geneva,' he said in an interview aired earlier on Tuesday on French television.
