Swiss relief team flies to Warsaw today
Switzerland is sending 25 tons of relief supplies to Warsaw (Poland) over the next two days, including medical equipment. Federal President Ignazio Cassis announced this on Twitter. A humanitarian aid team is flying there today to prepare the relief measures on site.
Ukraine: Negotiations with Russia end without a breakthrough
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without a breakthrough. “We are going back to the capitals for consultations,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak told journalists following the meeting on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
He did not give details. Both sides had identified a number of key issues on which “certain decisions” would need to be made. The meeting lasted regarding six hours. The delegation from Ukraine reportedly returned to Kyiv in the evening.
The talks had started at noon with a significant delay. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makej opened it, as videos from Belarusian state media showed. The talks were held on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. The fighting continued despite the negotiations.
SBB makes travel easier for refugees from Ukraine
For the time being, SBB is making it possible for people who have fled Ukraine to travel from the border to their destination in Switzerland or to travel by train easily and free of charge, the company said. This is in accordance with the decision of the Federal Council and in consultation with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
The Deutsche Bahn, the Austrian Federal Railways and the Polish Railway also decided on Sunday to make it easier for refugees to continue their journey.
According to the UN refugee agency, around 368,000 people are on the run. According to the Polish border guard, more than 200,000 people have arrived in Poland alone since the start of the Ukraine war.
Festival for Russian Music in Lucerne has been cancelled
The Magic Lake Festival in Lucerne will be canceled this year. Artistic director Numa Bischof confirmed this to SRF. According to its own statements, the festival has been “celebrating” Russian composers, writers and artists since 2012. It is financed, among others, by the investor Viktor Vekselberg, one of the richest men in Russia.
In the current situation, such an event cannot be held, says Numa Bischof. “It would be wrong times to make Russian music.” This despite the fact that it has always been an apolitical festival. Working with Viktor Vekselberg is also currently unthinkable. His donations will be refunded to him.
UN chief: Russian attacks on civilians “completely unacceptable”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has sharply condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Although Russian attacks have been reported to largely target Ukrainian military installations, we have credible reports of residential buildings, critical civilian infrastructure and other non-military targets suffering severe damage,” Guterres said at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“This escalating violence resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children, is totally unacceptable. Enough is enough.” Guterres called Russia’s deployment of deterrent weapons on alert a “terrifying development.” Nothing can justify the use of nuclear weapons.
The United Nations General Assembly has been dealing with Russia’s war once morest Ukraine since Monday in a rare emergency session.
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended
Negotiations on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine have ended, reports the Russian news agency TASS, citing a person familiar with the process. Nothing is initially known regarding the content of the talks.
Putin calls for demilitarization of Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine war and the peace talks.
Regarding a possible agreement with Ukraine, the Kremlin said: “Putin stressed that such an agreement is only possible if Russia’s legitimate security interests are unconditionally taken into account.” This includes, for example, recognizing the sovereignty of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and demilitarizing Ukraine. It also said: “It was found that the Russian side is open to negotiations with representatives of Ukraine.”
Regional authority: At least 11 dead in Russian attack on Kharkiv
According to local authorities, at least eleven people were killed in rocket attacks by Russian forces on residential areas in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Dozens of people were also injured, says the head of the regional administration, Oleg Synegubow. “It’s a crime,” he adds.
The northeastern city, Ukraine’s second largest, has become one of the most important battlegrounds since the Russian invasion. According to Synegubov, Russian troops have fired artillery at residential areas of Kharkiv where there are no Ukrainian army positions or strategic infrastructure. “That happens during the day when people go to the pharmacy, buy groceries or have drunk water.”
It is not possible for the time being to independently verify the number of victims. Previously, the former adviser to the Interior Ministry, Anton Herashchenko, had spoken of dozens of deaths in Kharkiv.
China criticizes Russia sanctions
The Chinese government has once once more condemned Western sanctions once morest Russia. “We are once morest the use of sanctions to solve problems, and even more so once morest unilateral sanctions without an international mandate,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing.
China and Russia would continue their economic cooperation in a spirit of mutual respect and benefit. At his daily press conference, Wang also rejected a US request that the People’s Republic condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
China always stands on the side of peace and justice and decides its position according to the circumstances, he said. China has repeatedly called for negotiations, acknowledging Russia’s legitimate security concerns.
EU Foreign Representative welcomes Federal Council’s decision
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was pleased with the Federal Council’s decision: “I’m very happy that Switzerland is following us with the sanctions.” Sending money to Switzerland will no longer help the Russian oligarchs. “That’s really good news.”
Federal President Cassis in the National Council, declaration adopted
Following the media conference of the Federal Council, Ignazio Cassis took the opportunity to explain the decision to fully adopt the EU sanctions to the National Council. The principle of neutrality does not speak once morest the takeover. According to the Federal President, Switzerland is committed to humanitarian principles and must not stand by and see them trampled underfoot.
Finally, the National Council approved a proposal submitted by the National Council’s State Political Committee Explanation to. It sharply condemns the actions of the Russian government. Two applications from SVP representatives demanding a rejection did not go through.
Lavrov cancels trip to UN Human Rights Council in Geneva
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has canceled a trip to a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council and disarmament talks in Geneva. The reason is that several EU countries have blocked their airspace for Lavrov’s plane, a spokesman for the Russian representation said during the talks. However, it is possible that Lavrov will speak via video link. The UN Human Rights Council is holding an emergency meeting at the request of the Ukrainian delegation.
Macron and Putin want to keep in touch
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin during the peace talks with Ukraine to end offensives once morest civilians in particular.
All attacks on private individuals and places of residence should be stopped, the civil infrastructure should be preserved, Macron demanded in the phone call, according to the Élyséepalast. Streets should also be secured, especially in the south of Kiev. It was said from Paris that Putin had shown himself willing to work on the points.
Media: Negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow continued following a break
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed following a break on Monday followingnoon. This was reported unanimously by several Russian and Belarusian media.
The delegations have not yet left the place of negotiation in the Ukrainian-Belarusian border area, the Belarusian state agency Belta reported. There was initially confusion regarding a message from the Ukrainian parliament on the Telegram news channel. It said the talks had already ended.
The delegations of the two countries met at noon with a significant delay. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makej opened the negotiations, as videos from Belarusian state media showed. Russia nevertheless continued its attacks in Ukraine.
Kiev’s mayor calls on Europe to donate to Ukraine
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko has called on Europe to donate to Ukraine. «Our wives, children, elderly people are going through hell. We urgently need your help now,” Klitschko said in a video on Twitter. “Please donate what you can to the account of the National Bank of Ukraine.”
The people of the Ukrainian capital had another hell of a night because of the Russian attacks. They would have tried everything to stop the Russian aggression. ‘For her to be stopped here. So that she doesn’t knock on your houses and doors, »said Klitschko in the direction of Europe.
Minute of silence in the National Council, applause for ambassadors
President of the National Council Irene Kälin (Greens/AG) demanded in a statement Beginning of spring session regarding the Ukraine war that Switzerland is acting. If she hides behind the good offices, she’s on the wrong side of history. Neutrality does not mean remaining silent, but standing up for peace and human rights.
She concluded with the wish “that together we can find a way to show heart with the Ukrainians and toughness once morest Russia.” And: “May clearer deeds follow our words.” Kälin asked those present for a minute’s silence “to commemorate the victims that this war has already claimed”. She then welcomed Artem Rybchenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Switzerland, to the gallery of the National Council Chamber. The great chamber rose to a standing ovation.
The media conference is over
We will continue to keep you up to date on developments in the Ukraine war here in the live ticker.
How does the Federal Council assess the risk of a nuclear strike?
“Our investigations lead us to assume that the actual use of these weapons is unlikely,” says Viola Amherd. The population need not fear accordingly.
What might cut gas supplies mean for Switzerland?
DETEC is at work and evaluating this, says Federal Councilor Viola Amherd. “The first clarifications indicate that Switzerland should not have any major problems because we have warehouses.”
Will the Swiss economy feel the effects of these sanctions?
Ueli Maurer: “That depends on further developments.” It is not yet possible to judge how deliveries and payments will continue. According to the Minister of Finance, there might be problems in individual cases, but there will probably not be a general problem. With the current measures, Switzerland is not under pressure. “It depends on global developments.”
