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Posts tagged as “territorial integrity”

Swiss ambassador denies Switzerland’s support for China-Brazil “peace plan” for Ukraine

swiss ambassador ukraine félix baumann interfax-ukraine felix

Swiss Ambassador to Ukraine Félix Baumann has clarified Switzerland’s position on the China-Brazil “peace initiative” for Ukraine, emphasizing the country’s role as an observer and reaffirming support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The ambassador’s comments come in response to media reports on 28 September suggesting that the Swiss Foreign Ministry had expressed support for the “peace plan” of China and Brazil to end Russia’s war in Ukraine de facto on Russian terms, with Ukraine ceding land to Russia. Following these reports, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement asserting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula is “the only path to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.”

In an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on 4 October, Baumann addressed what he called a “misunderstanding” regarding Switzerland’s involvement in the recent meeting held by China and Brazil in New York.

Switzerland did not join or did not subscribe the final communiqué of this meeting that was held by China and Brazil last week in New York. We attended the meeting, but as observers, and third, yes, we did not change our position,” Baumann stated.

The ambassador emphasized that Switzerland’s stance remains clear:

“Any solution to the – in response to the Russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine must be a fully – must fully respect international law, the United Nations Charter, and in particular territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”

Baumann explained that Switzerland believes all peace plans respecting these fundamental principles should be considered. He referenced the final communiqué of the first summit on peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland in June, which was based on Ukraine’s Peace Formula and other peace proposals aligned with international law.

The Swiss diplomat clarified that the decision to attend the recent meeting as an observer was in line with this position and because Switzerland believes “it’s important to talk about peace in a situation where we have a war that causes immense suffering and victims.”

Baumann concluded by reiterating Switzerland’s unchanged position:

“Nothing shall be decided without Ukraine.”

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