Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect
The Kremlin: Negotiations toward a settlement in Ukraine are currently at a complete standstill
Abu Mujahid: The steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the Resistance thwarted the displacement plan and allowed us to secure the best possible terms in an agreement to halt the genocidal war
Abu Mujahid: We salute whosoever made sacrifices in support of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the martyred Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine, as well as the people of Yemen and Iran
Abu Mujahid, head of the media office of the Popular Resistance Committees, to Al Mayadeen: The people of Gaza have sacrificed and given their most precious offerings for the Al-Aqsa Flood
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli artillery shelling targeted Khan Younis and the al-Bureij and al-Maghazi refugee camps
Captives may be released as early as Saturday and by Monday at the latest: Source briefed on the details of the agreement.
Netanyahu set to convene security cabinet at 1500 (1200GMT) and government at 1600 (1300GMT) to approve the deal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Within the first 24 hours, the Israeli military will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement

Russia reject Switzerland's offer to host talks with Ukraine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Feb 2023 18:23
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Russian Foreign Ministry says that Switzerland lost its neutrality.

  • x
  • Russian Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Maria Zakharova (AP)
    Russian Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Maria Zakharova (AP)

Switzerland has lost its neutral status and is not able to serve as a platform for Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Saturday.  

On Friday, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said that his country was ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine and provide its own platform for negotiations.  

"We note that Switzerland, by joining the illegal unilateral anti-Russia sanctions, imposed by the West, in our understanding, is no longer a neutral state and cannot perform a mediating role in the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, including the provision of its own platform," Zakharova said.

Earlier in February, the head of the CIA, William Burns, traveled to Moscow to offer a peace proposal that includes Ukraine officially giving up "around 20 percent" to Russia, Swiss-German newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) reported citing high-ranking German bipartisan officials.

Burns submitted the peace offering on behalf of the President of the United States Joe Biden, the report noted.

The Washington Post reported earlier that the head of the CIA Burns made a secret visit to Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and officials from local intelligence organizations.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand said earlier this month, citing a US official, that talks included measures to de-escalate tensions with Russia.

According to NZZ, citing senior German foreign affairs politician, Burns submitted the proposal plan in mid-January, adding that both Moscow and Kiev rejected it.

Related News

Swiss Gaza aid flotilla activists decry 'inhumane detention’

Swiss police use tear gas, water cannons in pro-Gaza flotilla rallies

The newspaper reported that the US proposal offered "around 20 percent of Ukraine's territory" to Russia, almost the size of the Donbass region.

Ukraine refused the plan "because they are not willing to have their territory divided," while Moscow said it will "will win the war in the long run anyway," the report continued.

American news outlet Newsweek cited Sean Davett, the deputy spokesperson at the White House National Security Council, as calling the report "not accurate".

Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy told Newsweek that the NZZ report was "interesting," but that he couldn't "comment [on] speculation."

The news site, citing the German officials, added that Biden wanted to avoid a lengthy war, so he offered to drop the large territory to Russia.

According to the Swiss-German newspaper, Biden announced sending the M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine following the rejection of both Kiev and Moscow of the proposal.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on January 11 that talks between Moscow and Kiev "are now impossible since there are no conditions for them either de facto or de jure."

Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy told Newsweek that peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow "will happen inevitably. But it's rather between Russia and the West, Ukraine has shown full lack of sovereignty. The more the West waits, the worse the outcome will be for Kyiv."

Commenting on the NZZ report, the White House denied that Burns, on behalf of Biden, offered Russia to take one-fifth of Ukraine's as means of ending the war.

A CIA official told Newsweek that the report was "completely false". 

  • Switzerland
  • Maria Zakharova
  • Russia
  • ignazio Cassis
  • ukra

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Mistrust paralyzes Washington as shutdown drags on for 9th day

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean
Politics

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean

ap
Politics

UN to slash peacekeeping operations as US funding cuts take effect

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, right, applauds after delivering a speech at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Politics

Spain passes decree formalizing full arms embargo on 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS