Ambassador doubts in improvement of relations between Russia and Switzerland in 2025

A sharp improvement in diplomatic relations between Russia and Switzerland is not expected in 2025. This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Sergey Garmonin on December 19.

"We should not expect sharp changes for the better in 2025. However, positive developments are quite possible in the medium term," RIA Novosti reports his words.

Harmonin also noted that the Swiss authorities are likely to support the position of Western countries with regard to Russia.

Earlier, on December 16, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that the country is actively continuing preparations for the next summit on the Ukrainian conflict. The first summit on Ukraine was held in mid-June in the Swiss town of Bürgenstock. Russia was not invited to participate in it. More than a dozen countries refused to sign the final document of the meeting.

In October, the Russian Embassy in Switzerland recalled that the country had lost its neutral status by supporting the anti-Russian sanctions. At the same time, the Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed to Izvestia that it continues to work on involving the Russian side in the negotiations.

Prior to that, on May 2, Federation Council member Grigory Karasin said that Switzerland has been losing its neutral status in recent years, and the country's actions cross out the neutrality that Switzerland has held onto for so long.

The special operation to protect Donbass, which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.