Switzerland ready to grant Putin 'immunity' to attend peace talks
Aug 20, 2025
Geneva [Switzerland], August 20: Switzerland is prepared to host talks on the war in Ukraine that involve the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Swiss government said.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Tuesday that Putin could be granted "temporary immunity." The Swiss government has previously used this approach in consultation with the ICC. Valentina Matvienko, a close ally of Putin, appeared at a high-level forum in Geneva in July, despite being under Western sanctions.
At present, there are no concrete plans for a summit involving Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, momentum for such talks is growing following Zelensky's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have both suggested Geneva as a possible venue. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune