Trump Casts Doubt on Putin’s Willingness to Negotiate as Switzerland Emerges as Possible Peace Venue

Trump Casts Doubt on Putin’s Willingness to Negotiate as Switzerland Emerges as Possible Peace Venue

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not yet be ready to strike a peace deal over the war in Ukraine, even as Switzerland is being discussed among world leaders as a potential neutral venue for talks.

Speaking after recent high‑level meetings that included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders, Trump said there was “a possibility of peace” but hinted that the Kremlin might not be prepared to engage. His remarks come in the wake of his earlier meeting with Putin in Alaska, which ended without a ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly floated Geneva as a suitable location for potential talks, citing its neutrality and long history of hosting delicate negotiations. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis indicated that his country would be willing to act as host despite the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin, adding that Switzerland could grant him immunity for the purposes of peace discussions.

The suggestion of a Swiss venue signals a growing interest among European leaders in finding a credible forum where both Moscow and Kyiv might feel able to meet. Yet veteran diplomats caution that even agreeing on a location is far from a breakthrough. Substantial hurdles remain — from establishing ceasefire terms and security guarantees to ensuring any deal is enforceable.

For now, Geneva’s iconic conference rooms may be ready, but whether Putin and Zelenskyy will occupy them remains an open question. The stage could be set; it is the script, and the willingness of its actors, that will decide whether the curtain ever rises.