Cassis and Lavrov discuss the OSCE and the Ukrainian conflict

Cassis and Lavrov discuss the OSCE and the Ukrainian conflict Keystone-SDA

Russian and Swiss foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and Ignazio Cassis spoke on the telephone about Switzerland's bid to chair the OSCE in 2026, the Swiss foreign ministry reported on Thursday. According to Moscow, they also discussed the Ukrainian conflict.

The conversation between the two ministers took place on Wednesday, according to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), confirmed news agency Keystone-SDA. It was a rare exchange between a high-ranking Russian and Western official since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Switzerland’s application to join the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was announced on Thursday by the FDFA. Switzerland said it was committed to preserving the organisation’s ability to act and its inclusiveness.

Preventing further deterioration

According to Moscow, Cassis and Lavrov discussed “ways of preventing further deterioration” at the OSCE, whose meetings have become another battleground between Moscow and the West.

According to Russia, “the two sides also exchanged views on the Ukrainian conflict. The minister explained in detail the Russian position on resolving the situation.”

Lavrov also re-emphasised “the inadmissibility of NATO’s eastward expansion, which is one of the root causes of the current situation”, according to his ministry. “In this context, Russia’s willingness to take all necessary measures to ensure its security was reaffirmed”, he added.

Sanctions

Relations between Russia and Switzerland have deteriorated sharply since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in 2022. Switzerland adopted sanctions against Moscow and hosted two summits on Ukraine called by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but at which Russia was absent.

In early November, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had his first telephone conversation in over two years with Russian President Vladimir Putin, provoking the ire of Ukraine.

Second Ukraine peace conference and Russia

Switzerland is working intensively to involve Russia in the next Ukraine peace conference. Foreign Minister Cassis said this on Monday in Rome on the fringes of a meeting.

“We are working intensively with many partners and have been trying to involve Russia since the first conference on the Bürgenstock,” said Cassis. He emphasised the need to open up dialogue between Ukraine and Russia.

According to Cassis, Switzerland is heavily involved in the organisation of the second Ukraine peace conference: “Work is continuing intensively (…) with Moscow, Washington, the G7 and the EU,” he said.

Signals from the United States and its new government “give us cause for cautious optimism”, Cassis added. The conditions for a solution that is more in line with international law may be in place, as the situation has become untenable for both sides, Cassis said. He hopes that the Ukrainian people will experience their last winter of suffering.

Russia’s absence from the first Ukraine peace conference at Bürgenstock in June caused a stir. Switzerland had not invited Russia at the time. No one from China attended either – despite an invitation.

Adapted from French by DeepL/ac

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