Political scientist Danilin: Switzerland sent Kyiv a signal about EU priorities

Political scientist Pavel Danilin in conversation with REN TV commented on Switzerland’s position on discussing with Russia the settlement of the situation in Ukraine.

“Switzerland is, firstly, the host of the Davos events. Secondly, it is a neutral country, and therefore can afford to speak not in the spirit of those states that, like slaves, lined up at the reception of Washington and open their mouths on command, saying only what they want they say” – indicated the channel’s interlocutor.

He added that Austria and Switzerland can afford a little more freedom than other US allies, although this freedom still has limits.

According to Danilin, the statement by the head of the Swiss Foreign Ministry is one of the few attempts to show Kyiv that defending the interests of the United States and Britain is not in the interests of European countries. The very fact of sending this signal is a good sign, the political scientist concluded.

Let us recall that Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, at the fourth meeting of national security advisers dedicated to the Ukrainian “peace formula,” said that Russia should take part in the discussion of a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

Later, the British publication The Independent stated that the negotiations ended without a significant solution. Bloomberg noted that no clear plan was adopted as a result.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the meeting “talks for the sake of talking.” He stressed that this process cannot lead to results.

Russia has repeatedly stated its readiness for negotiations with Ukraine. However, as the Kremlin noted, the Ukrainian authorities “absolutely deny” the negotiations.

It is worth noting that Kyiv representatives themselves regularly voiced completely unrealistic conditions for starting negotiations.

Representatives of Russia also recalled that in April 2022, the dialogue between Moscow and Kiev “under pressure from Western curators on the Ukrainian authorities” was interrupted. Now, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously said, Moscow will proceed from the situation “on the ground” and also take into account the reluctance of a number of liberated areas to return under the control of the Kyiv authorities.