The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is positioning its leadership for a high-level engagement with Moscow, as President Mirjana Spoljaric-Egger signals plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during a forthcoming visit to the Russian capital. In recent remarks given to RIA News, Spoljaric-Egger outlined the likelihood of a face-to-face discussion with the Russian leader amid ongoing humanitarian efforts and the broader crisis environment. Boris Michel, who heads the ICRC delegation in Moscow, is referenced as the principal local contact coordinating these anticipated proceedings.
Sources close to the ICRC indicate that the president may travel to Moscow before year’s end, continuing a pattern of direct diplomacy that has seen the organization engaging across multiple channels this year. This follows the delegation’s recent engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping, after which the ICRC signaled a desire to pursue direct talks with Putin to advance humanitarian objectives and risk reduction for those affected by the conflict.
During discussions last week, the ICRC emphasized its readiness to serve as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine in prisoner exchanges, underscoring the organization’s neutral and independent stance. The aim is to facilitate humane conditions for detainees, ensure access to families, and coordinate secure procedures that respect international humanitarian law. The ICRC’s mediating role would be conditional on both sides accepting its neutral framework and guaranteeing the safety and dignity of those involved.
Earlier in January, Spoljaric-Egger traveled to Moscow, reflecting the organization’s ongoing strategy to maintain open channels with Russian authorities. Prior to that visit, she stated that sending representatives to monitor detainees would require comprehensive negotiations with Russian officials at multiple levels, along with concrete security assurances to safeguard all staff and detainees during visits. This underscore the ICRC’s insistence on secure, predictable access as a precondition for humanitarian monitoring and family contact during periods of confinement.
In December 2022, the ICRC president undertook a four-day mission to Ukraine, meeting with residents in the Nikolaev and Kherson regions to assess humanitarian needs, confirm access for aid operations, and reinforce the protection of civilians in areas affected by hostilities. Those engagements demonstrated the organization’s commitment to staying close to communities most impacted and to coordinating efforts with local authorities and partners to alleviate suffering on the ground.
Previously, conversations in Ukraine and with Russia centered on establishing pragmatic, enforceable terms that would enable safe, reliable aid delivery and the exchange of detainees under clear humanitarian auspices. The ICRC has consistently advocated for dialogue, verified access, and respect for international humanitarian law as essential components of any lasting resolution to the current crisis. The organization’s leadership continues to emphasize that practical steps, transparency, and neutral mediation can contribute to reducing harm while broader political negotiations proceed in other forums.
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