Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Rejects Idea of Hosting Peace Summit on Ukraine in Geneva

The Russian ambassador to Switzerland, Sergey Garmonin, rejected the notion of Geneva hosting any peace summit related to Ukraine after it joined the European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow, stating that "Switzerland has lost the reputation for neutrality it once enjoyed." In an interview with the Swiss newspaper "Le Temps," Garmonin noted that "Russia will not accept hosting such a summit in Switzerland, which usually hosts high-level talks between conflicting powers." He emphasized that "the matter of Switzerland's representation and mediation is out of the question. Unfortunately, Switzerland has lost its status as a neutral country and is no longer able to play the role of a mediator or representative of interests." Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed in a speech to the Swiss parliament that Geneva act as a mediator and called for Switzerland to host an international peace summit regarding the conflict in Ukraine.