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Switzerland dreams of the Trump-Putine summit, but there is a problem

FILE - This combination photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump in a business roundtable in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a signing cerem ...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet soon.Image: keystone

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin announced an upcoming meeting. Switzerland offers itself as host countries, but other countries are more likely to be selected for the summit.

08.08.2025, 11:5008.08.2025, 11:50

Francesco Benini / CH Media

More “international”

The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will take place in just a few days, as confirmed by the two parties. But a question remains unanswered: where will the summit take place?

A meeting with very great expectations

The American president and Russian president will discuss the way in which Russia and Ukraine could get closer to a cease-fire, then a peace agreement.

Pierre-Alain Eltschinger, spokesperson for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE), writes:

“In this context, Switzerland reaffirms its will, if necessary and at the request of the parties, to support the efforts of dialogue and to make its good offices available, in accordance with its tradition of promoting peace and diplomacy.”

In other words, Switzerland reported that it was ready to welcome the summit between Trump and Putin. Such an event would offer the country great media visibility and could also be useful in the customs dispute with the United States.

Keller-Sutter discussed Ukraine with Rubio

Donald Trump would go to a country whose companies, according to him, earn too much money thanks to exports to America. He would meet the president of the Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter, who could speak to him about Bern’s new proposal to resolve the customs conflict.

Karin Keller-Sutter said Thursday that Ukraine’s subject had been discussed during his meeting with US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio in Washington. The President of the Confederation reaffirmed the will of the Swiss government to support efforts in favor of just and lasting peace.

HANDOUT - Secretary Marco Rubio meets with Swiss Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter, left, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., August 6, 2025. (Official State Department photo by Freddi ...

Karin Keller sets a Marco Rubio.Image: keystone

However, there remains a problem to be resolved in the event of Vladimir Putin: in March 2023, the International Criminal Court of The Hague issued an international arrest warrant against the Russian president, accusing him of war crimes. Switzerland should therefore offer Putin a safe conduct, that is to say the guarantee that it would not be stopped. Without that, Putin will certainly not move to Switzerland.

Other countries compete in Switzerland

Does Switzerland really have its chances of being chosen as a host? Other countries are in better position, namely: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Russia has repeatedly criticized Switzerland for taking over the economic sanctions of the European Union.

The last meeting between the American and Russian presidents had taken place in Switzerland. In June 2021, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin had met in Geneva, and the summit was not a great success. Putin had already gathered troops on the Ukrainian border and probably decided to attack the country. Eight months later, he launched his war of assault.

epa09276477 US President Joe Biden (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) talk during their meeting at the US - Russia summit at the Villa La Grange, in Geneva, Switzerland, 16 June 2021. US Pre ...

A vain meeting: Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in 2021 in Geneva.Image: keystone

Donald Trump now demands that Putin also meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But Putin refuses. Trump could therefore cancel the planned summit with the Russian president.

Translated from German by Anne Castella

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