Second year of war in Ukraine: Ignazio Cassis at UN headquarters in New York

On Thursday, Mr Cassis will commence his trip to UN headquarters in New York with a speech on humanitarian mine action in Ukraine. The contamination of a third of Ukraine – an area four times the size of Switzerland – by mines and other unexploded ordnance is having devastating consequences, both for the local population and for global food security. The elimination of these mines and other unexploded ordnance is a prerequisite for the recovery process in Ukraine and the return of displaced persons. Switzerland is strongly committed to this issue and will be organising a Ukraine Mine Action Conference at ministerial level in October 2024.

Mr Cassis will address the General Assembly and then the UN Security Council on Friday 23 February. The two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine will be the focus of these two annual international meetings in New York. Mr Cassis will reiterate Switzerland's call for respect for the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, as well as our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. At these two multilateral forums, he will also reiterate Switzerland's intention to organise a high-level conference for peace in Ukraine.

Various bilateral meetings are also on the Swiss Foreign Minister’s New York agenda.

Further information:

Peace formula: Federal Councillor Cassis chairs meeting of security advisors in Davos
What does Switzerland do in the UN Security Council?
Mine action in Ukraine: Road to Geneva 2024

Address for enquiries:

Nicolas Bideau
Head of FDFA Communication
nicolas.bideau@eda.admin.ch
Tel. +41 79 667 69 15
Press service tel. +41 58 460 55 55
Email: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @EDA_DFAE / @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs