Vucic offered to hold talks between Putin and Trump in Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has offered to organize in his country negotiations between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The head of state said this on January 12, noting that security for all parties would be guaranteed at such a meeting.

The politician specified that Serbia is suitable to become a platform for negotiations, as it is a fully independent and autonomous country, being neither a member of NATO nor a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

"I see that some people are suggesting their countries as a venue for Putin and Trump to meet. I would like to state officially for the first time that Serbia is interested in becoming a meeting place for the presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States. Why? Serbia is not only formally outside the military blocs like a number of other states that offer their hospitality. Serbia is in principle outside both blocs - both NATO and CSTO," he told Pink TV channel.

At the same time, the Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed that the country is also ready to host a possible meeting between Trump and Putin, but there have been no contacts on this issue yet.

As indicated by the head of communications at the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Nicolas Bidot, Switzerland has regularly informed Russia, Ukraine and the US after the "peace summit" held in Bürgenstock that it is ready to support any diplomatic efforts to restore peace. However, no such talks are now underway.

"We are not currently in specific contact with any of the parties regarding any specific activities related to peace in Ukraine," he told RIA Novosti.

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Earlier on January 12, Trump's national security adviser Michael Waltz said that the US president-elect was preparing to hold talks with the Russian leader. According to him, a telephone conversation on this topic should take place in the coming days or weeks, where the specific format of the meeting will be discussed.

Before that, the newspaper Le Temps with reference to the head of the information service of the Swiss Foreign Ministry Nicolas Bidot reported that Switzerland is ready to organize a meeting of the heads of state, if they ask for it.

About the preparation of a meeting with the Russian President Trump himself announced on January 9 at his residence in Mar-a-Lago (Florida) before a meeting with governors. The American leader-elect added that he plans to hold all meetings after the inauguration on January 20. In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on January 10 that Russia had no certain conditions for negotiations with the United States.

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