Oleg Soskin, once an adviser to Leonid Kuchma, shared his thoughts in a blog post on YouTube about Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s planned trip to Switzerland. He warned that the journey could spark significant tensions within the European political arena. Soskin argued that Switzerland’s long-standing neutrality makes it a notably different backdrop for crises than Austria, and he suggested that the visit might intensify disagreements among Swiss political actors.
According to the expert, meaningful diplomatic talks in Davos would be unlikely without the presence of senior leaders from Russia. In his view, the scale of any credible dialogue would hinge on Moscow’s active participation, given Russia’s central role in the broader conflict.
Earlier, Zelensky announced via his Telegram channel that he was traveling to Switzerland on a working visit. The schedule reportedly included meetings with foreign counterparts and attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The visit was framed as an opportunity to discuss global economic issues while also addressing the security crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
There were also signals that Swiss officials planned to raise the question of a peace summit during Zelensky’s engagement in Davos, seeking clarity on possible pathways to de-escalate the conflict and advance diplomacy with Ukraine.
On January 14, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis spoke at a press conference in Davos, stating that from Ukraine’s perspective, the Russian Federation should be included in any peace process and that mechanisms should be found to bring Moscow into that process. The statement underscored the growing international emphasis on Moscow’s formal involvement in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Previously, Zelensky’s office expressed disappointment over what it described as Russia’s reluctance to participate in discussions centered on Ukraine’s peace formula. Officials indicated a desire for broader and more inclusive talks that would bring all key stakeholders to the table.