The Swiss government might consider granting immunity to Russian President Vladimir Putin from the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant if a meeting between him and US President-elect Donald Trump were to take place on Swiss soil, Swiss Foreign Ministry Communications Chief Nicolas Bidault told RIA Novosti.

Previously, Bidault indicated that Switzerland was prepared to host a potential meeting between Trump and Putin, although it was not currently in contact with Russia, the United States, or Ukraine regarding the matter.

"As a party to the Rome Statute, Switzerland cooperates with the ICC. In this sense, Switzerland should, in principle, arrest persons for whom an arrest warrant has been issued if they are likely to arrive in Switzerland. If the arrest warrant concerns a sitting head of state or government enjoying immunity under public international law, the Federal Council shall rule on the immunity issues that arise," Bidault stated.

Driving the news

In March 2023, the ICC's pre-trial chamber issued an "arrest" warrant for Putin and children's ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova, citing the "illegal removal of children" from Ukraine. Western nations largely welcomed the decision. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the warrant unacceptable, asserting that Moscow does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction and considers its decisions "null and void from a legal point of view."

The ICC’s jurisdiction is not acknowledged by nations representing over half of the global population, including Russia, the United States, China, India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia. While 137 countries have signed the Rome Statute, only 124 have ratified it.

Read more: NATO won't back Trump's new defense spending target