Russia's Foreign Minister reaffirmed Moscow's demand that negotiations cannot begin unless Ukraine relinquishes its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russia's similar "comprehensive" agreement with North Korea, which included mutual defense provisions, offers a blueprint for what this new partnership might entail.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis revealed he focused on Ukraine's recent Global Peace Summit in the talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, while Russia's account notably omitted this topic and criticized Switzerland's “neutrality” after their decision to join anti-Russian sanctions.