Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the president of Russia, weighed in on the prospect of Moscow taking part in negotiations in Switzerland concerning the Ukrainian “peace formula.”
He stressed the need to clarify precisely what peace formula is being discussed and what participation would entail. Peskov argued that the negotiation process would be futile and meaningless without the involvement of the Russian Federation, suggesting that any talks conducted without Moscow would fail to yield genuine progress.
According to him, President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia’s openness to engage in dialogue on the matter. Peskov noted that such openness serves Russia’s interests, although he cautioned that there is currently no visible horizon in which Kyiv would permit talks to proceed with the Russian side included. This emphasis reflects Moscow’s stance that Russia should be a participant for any meaningful negotiation outcome to be reached.
On April 10, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis commented that an initial Ukrainian peace conference without Russian participation could still lay the groundwork for a later decision on Moscow’s involvement. Cassis explained that there is no requirement for Russian representatives to attend the first day of the conference and highlighted the ongoing differences of opinion regarding Moscow’s role in the negotiation process, signaling a potential sequence rather than an immediate inclusion of Russia.
Reports from the Russian embassy indicated that Swiss officials had not extended an invitation to Russia for the Ukraine summit at Bürgenstock. They added that even if such an invitation were extended, Moscow would likely decline to participate at that stage, underscoring Moscow’s position that Russia must be part of any viable negotiation framework for it to retain legitimacy.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly indicated a willingness to consider Russia’s participation in discussions about the peace plan, marking a notable shift in public posture. This development is being weighed against Moscow’s insistence on being an integral participant in any framework that seeks a durable settlement, a point repeatedly emphasized by Russian officials as negotiations unfold on the international stage. [Attribution: Kremlin press service, Swiss foreign ministry briefing, Russian embassy communications]