Switzerland has thrown its weight behind a Chinese-led peace initiative aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in its stance on the conflict. This comes after the peace plan, initially proposed by China in May, gained new momentum following the inclusion of a reference to the UN Charter – the foundational treaty that commits nations to upholding peace.
Switzerland, which hosted a Ukraine peace summit in June, was present at a 17-nation meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, presided over by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Brazilian foreign policy advisor Celso Amorim. The Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Nicolas Bideau, told Reuters, “We took part in this meeting as an observer and we support this dynamic.” Bideau highlighted that the inclusion of the UN Charter had “significantly changed” Switzerland’s view of the Chinese-led initiative. He added, “A concrete diplomatic effort organized by the Sino-Brazilian group could be of interest to us,” hinting at potential Swiss engagement in future peace efforts.
However, the US has expressed skepticism about China’s role in any peace plan, citing Beijing’s indirect support for Russia’s war efforts. Speaking at a press conference during the UN General Assembly, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pointed out that around 70 percent of the machine tools and 90 percent of microelectronics Russia imports come from China and Hong Kong. Blinken argued that these imports are materially aiding Moscow’s ability to produce weapons for its war in Ukraine. He stated, “So when Beijing says that, on the one hand, it wants peace, it wants to see an end to the conflict, but on the other hand, is allowing its companies to take actions that are actually helping Putin continue the aggression, that doesn’t add up.”
Switzerland’s peace summit in Buergenstock, held in June without Russian participation, faced criticism for being perceived as a Western-led effort to isolate Moscow. This led some to question whether the neutral nation was abandoning its centuries-old tradition of impartiality. In response, Bern has sought new partners for a potential follow-up summit, with countries from the “global South” considered likely candidates.
The war between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of ending. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains steadfast in his commitment to a “victory plan,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that peace talks can only begin if Kyiv concedes large territories and withdraws its bid to join NATO.
