Switzerland Has Lost Its Status as a Neutral Mediator, Says Russian Foreign Ministry
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s High-level Week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis. The meeting began with a light exchange, where Cassis asked Lavrov how he was doing, to which the Russian minister responded: “I am fine – in biological terms.” However, the tone shifted as Lavrov expressed Moscow’s discontent with Switzerland’s position on the Ukrainian conflict.
According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov stressed that Switzerland no longer holds the reputation of a respected neutral mediator. Moscow considers Bern’s stance toward Russia unfriendly, warning that such a policy cannot be ignored when shaping Russia’s approach to Switzerland. The ministry made clear that the Swiss government’s alignment with Western positions on the Ukraine crisis has eroded the credibility it once had as a facilitator of dialogue.
The two diplomats also discussed the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), ahead of Switzerland’s chairmanship in 2026. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the current state of the OSCE as dire, claiming its effectiveness in ensuring European security and cooperation has diminished significantly. For Moscow, Switzerland’s upcoming leadership role within the OSCE raises questions about its impartiality, given what Russia sees as a departure from neutrality.
