Despite its neutral status, Switzerland is a signatory to the Rome Statute that founded the court but Ignazio Cassis said that provided Putin was coming for peace purposes, the country could receive him.
“This has to do with our diplomatic role, with international Geneva as (the European) headquarters of the United Nations,” Cassis said.
French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly supports the idea of Geneva as a potential location for the talks following a White House meeting with European leaders on Monday.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker offered his country – also an ICC signatory – as a potential venue, saying Vienna supported any initiative leading to a just and lasting peace that protects Ukrainian and European security interests.
“As proud host of (the) OSCE and many other International Organisations we stand ready to offer our good services,” he said in a post on X.
A country in the Middle East could be a solid compromise location.
In March, Saudi Arabia hosted a US delegation for the talks first with Ukrainian and then with Russian officials.
Qatar and the UAE are possible options
Euronews’ correspondent in Doha, Aadel Hallem, says despite being a relatively small Gulf state, Qatar has a seat at the international table and is frequently called upon to be a go-to mediator in several international conflicts.
The next step of the diplomatic process aimed at putting an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine is set to be a meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. But where could that meeting take place?
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pursuing direct talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin almost since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin has always refused. But with a recent push from Donald Trump, the possibility of a meeting is closer than ever.
The question now is not only when, but where?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Putin for the abduction of Ukrainian children limits the choice of location as he risks arrest in any of the court’s 125 member states if he steps foot into their territory.