ANTALYA, March 2. /TASS/. Russia does not rely strongly on Swiss services on the Ukrainian issue, since Switzerland has lost neutrality, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference following the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
"We do not rely strongly on Swiss services. Switzerland has traditionally been a venue and a country that has helped in every possible way to reach compromises and agreements in negotiations thanks to its neutrality. It has long lost its neutrality," Lavrov said.
He recalled recent statements by Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis about secret peace plans for Ukraine.
"Cassis’s latest statements surprised me a little. He suddenly said that there are about ten peace plans for Ukraine, most of which are secret. It seems to me that this statement shows that he is not very immersed in the essence of what is happening," the minister said.
Lavrov also drew attention to the fact that the West is promoting the so-called formula of President Vladimir Zelensky for a settlement in Ukraine, which involves the surrender of Russia.
"But if the West wants to retreat and lose face, this is always welcome in politics if it only helps achieve peace. <...> We will not prevent them from doing this in a way that makes them feel like they have saved their face. But now nothing like this is even in sight," he said.
Earlier, Cassis reported that there are about ten peace plans for Ukraine in the world community, most of them are known to the public, but several plans are secret. Swiss President Viola Amherd said after a meeting with Zelensky on January 15 that he asked Switzerland to organize a high-level peace conference. Berne responded positively to this request. In turn, Cassis noted at a press conference in Davos on January 14 that Russia must be involved in the discussion about a peaceful settlement.
Switzerland, which is not a member of NATO and the EU, supports anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union. In 2022, the Russian government approved a list of foreign states and territories committing unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies and citizens. The Swiss Confederation was added to this list.