Switzerland may host Putin for peace talks with immunity limited

Switzerland’s foreign minister signaled that the country would be prepared to host Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks on Ukraine, even as an arrest warrant for him remains in effect at the International Criminal Court. The catch, he stressed, is that immunity could be granted only if Putin’s visit is explicitly for a peace conference, not for private or casual reasons. The stance underscores Switzerland’s attempt to reconcile its longstanding policy of neutrality with its role as host to international institutions in Geneva, where diplomacy and humanitarian concerns intersect with legal obligations.

Under a framework established last year, Switzerland could grant immunity to an individual facing an international arrest warrant if the visit serves a peace conference. The foreign minister explained that the country would be legally obliged to arrest Putin if he entered Swiss territory outside the defined peace-process context. He emphasized that Switzerland remains ready to host such a meeting, highlighting Geneva’s experience as a venue for international diplomacy and its status as a hub for United Nations activities.

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