Cassis: Switzerland wants to restart peace talks

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has spoken about a possible revival of peace talks on the war in Ukraine. In an interview with SonntagsBlick, the foreign minister commented on the trip that security adviser Gabriel Lüchinger made to Kyiv and Moscow in August. "Vogliamo dare un contributo per rimettere in moto i colloqui di pace" (roughly: "We want to make a contribution to restarting the peace talks"), Cassis said.

The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) did not comment on the concrete results of Lüchinger's mission. "La diplomazia è come forare assi spesse. I risultati concreti sono i prossimi passi, che sono segreti" (roughly: "Diplomacy is like drilling through thick planks. The concrete results are the next steps, which are secret"), he explained, adding that Switzerland continues to work towards a diplomatic breakthrough.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Switzerland as a possible venue for negotiations with the United States and Russia. Bern hopes the talks could take place in Geneva, but the Federal Council has not yet decided whether Switzerland will host a peace conference. "Non è stato ancora deciso nulla, continuiamo a lavorare con costanza dietro le quinte. E tutto può cambiare" (roughly: "Nothing has been decided yet, we continue to work steadily behind the scenes. And everything can change"), Cassis said.

Russia and Ukraine tired of the war

Cassis had already travelled to Kyiv and Moscow in February, while he was chairing the OSCE. Switzerland subsequently supported the Americans in a mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva. According to the minister, after four and a half years of war both countries are tired and looking for a way out, albeit on different terms.

Cassis announced that he had requested a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of his upcoming trip to New York. The OSCE's ministerial conference is also due to take place in Lugano, in Ticino, at the end of the year. "Il ministro degli Esteri russo e quello statunitense dovrebbero venire. Questo offre l'occasione per uno scambio e forse per qualcosa di più" (roughly: "The Russian and American foreign ministers should come. This offers an opportunity for an exchange, and perhaps for something more"), the Federal Councillor concluded.