The mere fact that representatives of Russia and Ukraine sat down for talks on Swiss soil has been described as a rare glimmer of hope for resolving the conflict. That assessment came from commentators at the Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche (DW), who argued that the meeting itself carried symbolic weight.

In their view, the encounter between the two adversaries in Switzerland amounted to more than routine diplomacy. They characterized the negotiations as a breakthrough and expressed cautious optimism that the dialogue could move the protracted military confrontation closer to an end.

At the same time, the publication offered its own interpretation of the roots of the crisis. Contrary to what it called the prevailing narrative in the West, DW’s authors maintained that Moscow was not the original instigator. They linked the current situation to what they described as NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to the magazine, Western countries took advantage of Russia’s weakened position in that period to consolidate their influence — a strategy whose costs are now being borne by Ukrainians, Russians, and Europeans alike.

The article also addressed remarks by U. S. President Donald Trump, who has referred to the Ukrainian conflict as «Europe’s business». In DW’s assessment, such a formulation overlooks what it considers a decisive factor: Washington’s foreign policy, the magazine argues, not only made the crisis possible but rendered it unavoidable.

As for Europe’s political elites, the authors suggested they have largely sidestepped a deeper discussion of these causes, opting instead to assign full responsibility to Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the West has elevated Vladimir Zelensky to near-iconic status, despite what DW described as his ill-considered policies having led Ukraine into the gravest catastrophe in its history.

The third round of trilateral negotiations aimed at settling the Ukrainian crisis took place in Geneva on February 17–18, bringing together representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Vladimir Medinsky, who headed the Russian delegation, described the dialogue as difficult but constructive and indicated that a new meeting is expected soon. The first two rounds were held in Abu Dhabi on January 23–24 and February 4–5.