Switzerland Today
Hello Swiss of the world,
The guns have not fallen silent in Ukraine. Russia launched fresh large-scale strikes just hours before talks between Kyiv and Moscow opened in Geneva. Today, the negotiations ended without agreement on the most contentious issues. Switzerland’s diplomatic success remains only partial.
There was clearer success in Milan-Cortina, however, where Swiss athletes added two more medals to their tally.
Talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia ended in Geneva today, less than 24 hours after they began. Kyiv and Moscow both described the discussions as “difficult”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a cautious assessment. “We can see that some preparatory work has been done, but for the moment positions differ” on the “sensitive” questions of territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russian forces, he said.
Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, also described the talks as “difficult but professional”, while another Russian source called them “very tense”. On Tuesday evening, US envoy Steve Witkoff had spoken of “significant progress” on social media.
The discussions were based on a US plan unveiled several months ago, which foresees territorial concessions by Ukraine in exchange for Western security guarantees. The main sticking point remains the fate of the Donbas, the large industrial region in eastern Ukraine. The negotiations took place while fighting continued on the ground.
A commentary by a journalist from Swiss public broadcaster RTS during the Israeli team’s two-man bobsleigh race sparked controversy beyond Switzerland. His reference to the war in Gaza and to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) policy triggered strong reactions.
During the race at the Milan-Cortina Games, commentator Stefan Renna focused less on sporting performance than on pilot Adam Edelman, who has described himself as “Zionist to the core” and called the military intervention in Gaza “the most morally just war in history”. Renna also questioned whether Edelman’s presence at the Olympics was appropriate, noting that the IOC has said athletes who actively support war are not eligible to compete.
The remarks provoked sharp responses. Members of the Israeli community expressed indignation. The Israeli embassy in Switzerland denounced a “flagrant abuse” by the public broadcaster, while the US ambassador to Israel accused the journalist of anti-Semitism. Others, including French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, defended Renna, arguing that he had confined himself to facts.
RTS later removed the footage from its website and issued a statement. “Our journalist wanted to question the IOC’s policy regarding the statements made by the athlete concerned. However, such information, although factual, was inappropriate in the context of sports commentary due to its length,” it said.
On the sporting front, Switzerland won two additional medals today, bringing the total to 12. Nadine Fähndrich and Nadja Kälin secured silver in the women’s cross-country team sprint, behind Sweden. In Alpine skiing, Camille Rast finished second in the slalom, behind Mikaela Shiffrin.
A Swiss national has been expelled from Bali for working illegally at a surf school – a case highlighting Indonesia’s tougher stance on illegal employment and overtourism.
The Swiss tourist was actively involved in running a surf school in the Canggu region. Although his digital nomad visa allowed him to reside on the island as an employee of a foreign company, it did not permit him to work for or manage an Indonesian business, Blick reported. He is also alleged to have illegally recruited another foreign instructor.
Following a tip-off, Bali’s immigration authorities arrested the man and deported him on February 7. He is now banned from entering Indonesia for five years, with the possibility of an extension to ten.
The country nicknamed the Island of the Gods is considered a paradise for influencers and digital nomads. But authorities say they are determined to curb the negative side effects of this trend. “Our island is the most popular tourist destination for foreigners, and strict controls are needed to ensure their presence is an asset and not a problem,” said Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster.
Toblerone manufacturer Mondelez plans to import 924 tonnes of butter from the European Union – a move that has raised eyebrows at a time when Swiss butter stocks are already full. The dairy sector is voicing its concerns.
Swiss butter stocks, considered to be a kind of “thermometer” of the dairy market, are full. At the end of last year, national reserves stood at 4,888 tonnes, according to the industry organisation Butter. Against this backdrop, the Berner Zeitung reports that Mondelez intends to import 924 tonnes of butter from the EU for use in chocolate production.
Swissmilk, the federation of Swiss milk producers, is questioning the authorisation procedure for this importation. The organisation believes that the company may be relying on a mechanism that allows temporary imports of milk or ingredients for processing and re-export, and notes that such applications are often approved without thorough checks.
The American food group’s response: “The procurement of the various raw materials required to produce Toblerone in Bern-Brünnen is complex and long-term.”
Translated using AI/amva/ts
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