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Foreign affairs

‘Real peace closer for Ukraine’ despite lack of consensus at Swiss summit

Eighty-four out of around 100 states and organisations at the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland have signed a joint communiqué.

By Thomas Stephens

Foreign affairs

Swiss summit kick-starts Ukraine peace process

By Matthew Allen

Conference room at Bürgenstock, Switzerland, ahead of Ukraine peace summit

Foreign affairs

Why China is staying away from the Swiss-led Ukraine peace process

By Geraldine Wong Sak Hoi

Foreign affairs

What do you expect will happen at the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland?

By Giannis Mavris

Animal rights in court: Swiss-French film wins first Palm Dog Award at Cannes

Fighting in court for his life: Kobi the dog in a scene of "Dog on Trial".

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 Swiss-French director Laetitia Dosch discusses her animal-whispering gifts and the serious issues behind the award-winning film ‘Dog on Trial’.

The Swiss who taught Americans about direct democracy

This content was published on Jun 15, 2024 The movement for direct democracy in the United States began in Zurich. It is closely associated with the story of the Swiss socialist Karl Bürkli.

A house hit in recent fighting Is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Sudan's warring generals have pledged to observe a new three-day truce that was brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia to try to pull Africa's third-largest nation from the abyss.

Sudanese in Switzerland join forces to highlight ‘ignored’ war

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 Conflict has been raging in Sudan for more than a year. A Swiss organisation wants to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe and collect donations.

Switzerland Today

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 In the news: deadly explosion, domestic worker abuse and women’s strike.

Why China is staying away from the Swiss-led Ukraine peace process

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 China will be absent at this weekend’s Ukraine peace summit, raising the spectre of an alternative peace plan backed by non-Western states.

Ukrainian flag in front of the Swiss parliament

Should Switzerland refuse protection to Ukrainian men of fighting age?

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 As Ukraine tries to mobilise more troops, some politicians say able-bodied Ukrainian men in Switzerland should join the war effort at home.

Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter

How to regulate Swiss banks: a step-by-step guide

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 After the collapse of Credit Suisse, the government wants to revise banking regulation.

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‘Less impressive and less important’: Switzerland’s role as an intermediary in Iran

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 Cyrus Schayegh, a professor of international history at the Geneva Graduate Institute, discusses Iran’s future foreign policy and why Switzerland’s role in the region could fade.

Swiss Parliament calls for greater control of aid in Palestine

This content was published on Jun 5, 2024 The Senate has passed a proposal calling for stricter controls to ensure that funds are not used to finance terrorism.

Swiss House of Representatives does not want to recognise Palestine as a state

This content was published on Jun 4, 2024 By 131 votes to 61 with 2 abstentions, the House of Representatives said ‘no’ to the postulate put forth by the Social Democratic Party.

Protesters light flares as they take to the streets to call on the Israeli cabinet to sign a hostage deal and hold early elections during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 1.

Switzerland backs Biden’s Gaza peace plan

This content was published on Jun 2, 2024 Switzerland supports a new peace proposal pushed by US President Joe Biden for a hostage agreement and a ceasefire in Gaza.

A woman in a brown top and brown and white headscarf is on her knees, screaming, amidst the wreckage of her tent. A child in a white striped blue Puma tracksuit is standing beside her.

Switzerland ‘extremely concerned’ about spiralling violence in Middle East

This content was published on May 30, 2024 Switzerland has strongly condemned Hamas’ recent rocket fire on Israel and Israel’s attacks on a camp for displaced people in Rafah.

Masked Palestinian members of the "Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam" militia, the military wing of Hamas, hold their weapons and pose for the media during a march on the streets of Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. Arabic on headband reads, "No God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet, Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam brigade." (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Swiss parties in favour of banning Hamas

This content was published on May 29, 2024 Swiss political parties want to ban Hamas and classify it as a terrorist organisation in Switzerland, which would prevent financing and propaganda activity.

Explainer: Switzerland and the recognition of Palestine

This content was published on May 24, 2024 On Wednesday Ireland, Spain and Norway said they would recognise a Palestinian state. What are the chances of Switzerland following suit?

Pro-Palestine uni protests to be debated in Swiss parliament

This content was published on May 20, 2024 The Swiss People’s Party says it will launch two postulates calling for clarifications about the recent student protests and occupations.

A group of students seated on the floor inside a university hall. In the middle of the group is a sign reading "UZH students against genocide".

Swiss student group condemns campus occupations

This content was published on May 17, 2024 Some aspects of pro-Palestine sit-ins have gone too far, but the right to protest and debate must be upheld, the student association has said.

Swiss police remove protestors from University of Bern.

Swiss police clear pro-Palestinian students protesting in Bern

This content was published on May 15, 2024 Police moved in early on Wednesday to remove some 30 pro-Palestinian student protesters from a Bern university building.

Red Cross sets up Rafah emergency field hospital

This content was published on May 14, 2024 The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are opening a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.

Police clear out pro-Palestinian students protesting in Geneva

This content was published on May 14, 2024 The police intervened early on Tuesday to dislodge pro-Palestinian students who had been occupying the University of Geneva for almost a week.

Students hang up large signs and sit on the floor in a university building in Fribourg

Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities

This content was published on May 13, 2024 Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.

About 60 people crowd into the entrance of a university building. One is waving a Palestinian flag.

Swiss pro-Palestine protest reaches University of Bern

This content was published on May 13, 2024 Another Swiss university joins sit-ins to protest the worsening situation in the Middle East.

Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership

This content was published on May 11, 2024 On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).

What do you expect will happen at the Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland?

The Swiss government hopes its peace summit will lay the groundwork for a peace process. What do you think?

Join the discussion

Jun 13, 2024

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35 Comments

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Geneva Conventions turn 75: are they still effective?

This content was published on Jun 11, 2024 This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. But how relevant are these, and international law, especially for younger generations?

Swiss reject health insurance initiative: the reactions

This content was published on Jun 9, 2024 Here is what supporters and opponents of the “Premium Relief Initiative” had to say after Sunday’s vote.

Fighting soil contamination with bacteria in Lausanne.

Pioneering research using dioxin-eating bacteria could help clean up Swiss city

This content was published on Jun 7, 2024 Dioxin-eating bacteria developed in a lab are to be used to help decontaminate polluted sites in Lausanne in western Switzerland.

Swiss politicians agree that healthcare system has to change – but how?

This content was published on May 30, 2024 Parliament believes the Swiss healthcare system needs to be reformed, but the solutions differ. We discuss the issue in our Let’s Talk programme.

Who is Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo?

This content was published on May 29, 2024 A documentary follows the career of Nemo Mettler, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 for Switzerland.

What is at stake in the two initiatives on healthcare costs?

This content was published on May 22, 2024 Rising healthcare costs are the main concern of Swiss voters going to the ballot boxes on June 9.

The small robot aiming to explore volcanic tunnels on the moon

This content was published on May 7, 2024 In the not-too-distant future, a hopping Swiss-developed robot could be bound for the moon to pave the way for future missions.

How drug prices are negotiated in Switzerland and beyond

This content was published on Apr 23, 2024 Switzerland’s pharmaceutical sector supplies drugs worldwide, but not all countries receive them with the same price tag. Here’s why.

woman in black shirt pointing at camera with blue background and emojis

How you view the problem of low birth rates in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 22, 2024 Why do you think the Swiss birthrate has fallen so low. What impact will this have?

Guerreiro do Divino Amor poses in front of the "Fountain of Helvetia", part of the installation at the Swiss Pavilion in Venice.

An Alpine carnival: Switzerland stars as a superfiction at the Venice Biennale

This content was published on Apr 20, 2024 The Swiss-Brazilian artist Guerreiro do Divino Amor will represent Switzerland for the 60th edition of the Venice Art Biennale.

Switzerland’s long-standing love of cartography

This content was published on Apr 17, 2024 Long world-renowned, Swiss maps have in recent years managed to reach a wider public.

Moon robots learn to walk – in Zurich

This content was published on Apr 13, 2024 Scientists in Switzerland are developing robots that will one day explore the Moon or Mars.

a customs officer looking through luggage

Drug-busting with customs officers at Zurich airport

This content was published on Apr 12, 2024 Watch: Gino the sniffer dog helps in the search for cocaine smuggled into Switzerland via Zurich airport.

Flexible retirement could help plug labour gaps in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 3, 2024 At a stretch, people of retirement age could be persuaded to stay at work longer.

Former CERN director Herwig Schopper – a centenarian on the impact of physics

This content was published on Mar 22, 2024 The German physicist and former director of CERN looks back at some of the highlights and encounters of his career.

External Content

Each day, SWI swissinfo.ch selects and presents content from our European public service media partners as part of a project of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Reuters International

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 23:56

Soccer-England hang on to beat Serbia 1-0 with Bellingham header

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 20:55

Austrian minister defies coalition ally to back EU nature restoration law

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 19:42

Soccer-France captain Mbappe says extremes are knocking on door of power

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 19:41

Hamburg police shoot hammer-wielding man ahead of Euro 2024 match

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 19:12

Netanyahu denounces tactical pauses in Gaza fighting to get in aid

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 18:25

Ukraine summit sees hard road to peace as way forward uncertain

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 17:46

Brazilian women march against bill tightening abortion ban

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 17:03

Fourteen Jordanians die during haj in Saudi Arabia, some succumb to heat

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 15:51

Russian forces kill Islamic State-linked hostage takers at detention centre

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 14:39

Swedish diplomat in ‘seventh heaven’ following release from Iran

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 13:23

Young British royals say ‘We love you, Papa’ in Father’s Day message

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 12:47

UK polls point to ‘electoral extinction’ for Prime Minister Sunak’s Conservatives

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 12:35

Soccer-Southgate hopes to deliver in what could be his final tournament with England

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 12:32

Ukraine says peace summit communique takes Kyiv’s positions into consideration

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 12:31

Swiss right-wing leader calls Ukraine summit an ’embarrassment’

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 11:41

Former French President Sarkozy flags chaos risk as election looms

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 08:59

Italy’s Meloni shows her arch-conservative credentials at G7 summit

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 06:38

Two explosions near vessel off Yemen’s coast, UK maritime office says

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 06:24

China views Taiwan’s ‘elimination’ as national cause, Taiwan president says

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 03:09

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv’s peace push

Bloomberg Business

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 18:23

Ukraine Bid for Global South Support Falters at Swiss Summit

This content was published on Jun 16, 2024 – 18:15

Global Rate-Cut Juggernaut Is Struggling to Start

This content was published on Jun 15, 2024 – 10:28

Scholz Dismisses Putin’s Conditions for Ukraine Peace Talks

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 – 22:15

Traders Shun Risk as French Turmoil Rattles Globe: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 – 18:05

Ukraine Struggles to Court Global South Before Swiss Summit

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 – 17:44

India, Saudi Arabia to Send Senior Envoys to Ukraine Summit

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 – 06:01

Fed Diverges From Global Peers in New Era of Higher for Longer

This content was published on Jun 14, 2024 – 02:49

UBS Nears Sale of Credit Suisse China Unit to Beijing Fund

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 – 23:34

UBS Sees Corporate Bond Spreads Widening Slightly Into Year-End

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 – 22:42

Tech Powers Stocks as Adobe Surges in Late Trading: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 – 14:25

Cryptic Swiss Central Bank Prompts a Pullback in Rate-Cut Bets

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 – 00:03

Stock Bull Run Breaks Record on Fed Decision Day: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Jun 12, 2024 – 19:25

UBS Private Event Draws Clients to Fast-Growing ESG Idea

This content was published on Jun 12, 2024 – 10:15

Deutsche Bank Targets Middle East Wealth With 10 New Hires

This content was published on Jun 12, 2024 – 09:44

Spar of South Africa Surges After Finding Buyer for Polish Unit

This content was published on Jun 11, 2024 – 22:24

Stocks Rise as Solid Treasury Sale Spurs CPI Bets: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 – 22:32

Stocks Eke Out Gains in Fed Run-Up as Euro Falls: Markets Wrap

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 – 17:49

French Bank Stocks Lead Market Drop After Macron Calls Snap Vote

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 – 16:17

Ukraine Push for Support Draws 45 Leaders to Swiss Summit

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 – 10:09

Julius Baer Targets Rich Indians in Dubai With UBS, JPMorgan Hires

Swiss politicians concerned by Ukraine peace conference

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 Switzerland did not invite Russia to its peace conference. Was this a mistake?

Swiss Solidarity collects donations for Sudan

This content was published on Jun 13, 2024 Swiss Solidarity, the humanitarian arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, is calling for donations to step up its aid in Sudan. Click here to donate.

Police investigate an ATM explosion at Biere, Switzerland, in February 2023.

Politicians sound alarm over ATM attacks in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 11, 2024 Ruthless, highly-organised foreign criminal gangs are behind many of the ATM attacks that continue to rock small Swiss towns and villages, say police.

The traditional potato dish Rösti has become a symbol of the Swiss linguistic divide.

Oui or nein: are languages a major fault line in Swiss direct democracy?

This content was published on Jun 10, 2024 Measures to tackle rising healthcare costs won the backing of French- and Italian speaking Switzerland but failed to pass a nationwide vote.

Picture of a woman holding a child in Gaza with rubble in the background

Inside Geneva podcast: is international law dead?

This content was published on Jun 11, 2024 Geneva is the home of international law, the rules that are supposed to stop the worst violations in war. But does anyone respect it anymore?

Six lessons from Swiss healthcare vote

This content was published on Jun 9, 2024 Swiss voters rejected two initiatives that offered solutions to healthcare woes. Why? And, what happens next?

Swiss glaciers remain under threat despite huge winter snowfall

Glaciologists on the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland.

This content was published on Jun 7, 2024 Swiss glaciologist Matthias Huss on the impact of the recent huge dump of snow on Swiss glaciers and why the long-term future of the shrinking Alpine glaciers remains grim.

Should Swiss women emulate fighter pilot’s success?

This content was published on Jun 7, 2024 Switzerland’s sole female fighter aircraft pilot, Fanny Chollet, could be an inspiration for other women.

Pioneering research using dioxin-eating bacteria could help clean up Swiss city

This content was published on Jun 7, 2024 Dioxin-eating bacteria developed in a lab are to be used to help decontaminate polluted sites in Lausanne in western Switzerland.

Mum in the kitchen, dad in the shed: why roles are slow to change in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 4, 2024 In Swiss families, although men are becoming more involved in household tasks, inequalities within couples increase when a child arrives.

Many political heavyweights have met on this mountain.

Ukraine conference in Switzerland: diplomacy against a historic backdrop

This content was published on Jun 1, 2024 The Bürgenstock hotel complex has a long history of high-ranking political meetings. Its security and discretion also attracts celebrities.

Swiss politicians agree that healthcare system has to change – but how?

This content was published on May 30, 2024 Parliament believes the Swiss healthcare system needs to be reformed, but the solutions differ. We discuss the issue in our Let’s Talk programme.

Winners and losers: sports betting in Switzerland

This content was published on May 27, 2024 With Euro 2024 and the Olympic Games just weeks away, bookmakers and punters are looking forward to a summer of betting on sports. But how easy is it to have a flutter in Switzerland?

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