By Hans-Ueli Läppli
February 19, 2025, marks a day when the US and Russian foreign ministers are negotiating over Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, while Switzerland stands by, seemingly ignored. No Geneva, no Bürgenstock – instead, Riyadh, a country known for oil and human rights criticism rather than peace diplomacy.
Swiss politicians are upset and the question is on everyone’s mind: Has Switzerland finally abandoned its role as a neutral mediator?
The Swiss People’s Party is fuming and the question is clear: The Federal Council has failed.
For the Swiss People’s Party, the case is clear: The Federal Council has slaughtered the sacred cow of neutrality.
Franz Grüter (SVP) thunders:
“It is now clear and evident that the Federal Council has breached Swiss neutrality and severely weakened the country in foreign policy.”
Russia has classified Bern as “unfriendly” since 2022 and even a mediator mandate between Moscow and Kiev was politely declined with a “Thank you, but no” – neutrality is no more.
A reminder: In June 2021, Putin and Biden still met in Geneva – Switzerland was hip then.
However, after sanctions, Selenskyj’s PR and a one-sided Bürgenstock show, the situation has changed.
Saudi Arabia is now the star and Switzerland can only watch.
The lack of trust in Swiss neutrality is also reflected in the allocation of mediator mandates.
Traditionally, Switzerland takes on such mandates for countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations. Due to its position on the Ukraine issue, it is no longer accepted as a mediator by Russia and its partner states, however.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis emphasizes that Switzerland will continue to offer its “good services.” Whether this is still recognized internationally remains to be seen. The perception has changed: While Switzerland was once seen as a neutral mediator between East and West, it is now more often viewed as part of the Western camp.
Switzerland has noticeably lost its credibility as a neutral actor in international diplomacy. Whether this is a temporary development or if Geneva as a global negotiation hub will lose significance remains to be seen. One thing is clear, however: Whoever wants to be taken seriously as a peace broker must act consistently neutral.