ThoseInternational policy
A Zelensky-Putine meeting in Geneva is possible
Emmanuel Macron wants to see the city of Calvin hosting a summit for peace. Analysis of the chances of the city in the face of its competitors.
Will the Ukrainian president and his Russian counterpart meet in Geneva?
AFP
- Emmanuel Macron suggests Geneva as a meeting place between Zelensky and Putin.
- The City has secure facilities and experts in international negotiations.
- The Federal Council would guarantee diplomatic immunity to Vladimir Putin.
- Russia could refuse Geneva due to Swiss sanctions.
Geneva may have the opportunity to remind the world of its status as an international city. This Tuesday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, spoke in an interview with the LCI channel the possibility of a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. According to him, the city the best placed to bring the two belligerents together is Geneva, given its long tradition of neutrality and international engagement.
Is it realistic? The latest diplomatic interviews linked to the Russian-Ukrainian war generally took place in Türkiye or Saudi Arabia. Decryption of issues with Achim Wennmann, professor at the Institute of Advanced International Studies and Development (IHEID) and holder of the Chair in Peace Mediation.
For this researcher, Geneva has big assets to assert to attract the summit of peace. “From an operational point of view, the canton and the Confederation have an important device. Specially trained police are available, as well as places designed for these kinds of meetings, ”he explains.
Geneva, negotiation specialist
And that’s not all: Switzerland has great experience in the field of negotiations. “There are many specialists accustomed to making parties in conflict dialogue, it is a bit of a trademark. This is why we tend to say that we feel the influence of Geneva during all negotiations, no matter where they take place. ”
From a logistical point of view, Geneva is also interesting. “The renovation of the airport made it possible to create places of passage and meeting in the area. This would organize the summit outside the city center and the lake, which would not be blocked as during the Biden-Putin meeting of 2021. ” The latter had taken place at the Parc La Grange, closing a good part of the Eaux-Vives and the Rade to traffic.
Immunity for Putin
Achim Wennmann also has a remark: “Why not make them meet at the Palais des Nations?” After all, the two states are members. And it would be a possibility of giving a role to the United Nations in this conflict, ”he smiles.
Let us also recall that several meetings between the Russian and Ukrainian authorities have already taken place in Switzerland in Bürgenstock, proof of the attractiveness of the country.
The Federal Council seems to determine to renew the experience. This Tuesday, Ignazio Cassis assured that in the event of a summit in Geneva, Switzerland would offer immunity to Vladimir Putin for the time of the meeting. Indeed, the latter is still under an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Russia could refuse
But beware of the runaway. Even if Emmanuel Macron and the seven wise men would see the city of Calvin as a place of negotiations, it is only a declaration of intention. For a country to be chosen to play the role of mediator, the two parties to the conflict must send him an official request.
“However, Russia does not consider Switzerland today as a truly neutral country, due to the sanctions that the latter imposed on it. This could be a real obstacle to the organization of a summit in our country … “
Achim Wennmann stresses, however, that if the host city is certainly important to the organizing authorities, it only influences the content of the negotiations: “Meetings between heads of state are only the emerged part of the iceberg. There are many invisible meetings before and after these summits. ”
For the professor, what matters is to reach points of agreement. It should therefore not be expected that the first meeting between the two heads of state leads to a ceasefire. “If an interview, whether it takes place in Geneva or elsewhere, leads to the creation of Russo-Ukrainian working groups on various questions, it would already be a success,” he said.
He continues: “Negotiating is like taking a train. We start from a station, we make several stops in various cities, then we arrive at destination. Even if Geneva is chosen, it will not be the terminus. There is still a long way before peace. ”
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