Switzerland’s foreign affairs ministry expressed its endorsement on Saturday for a peace initiative led by China aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, indicating a notable shift in its perspective regarding such diplomatic efforts.

As the war enters its third year following Russia’s invasion, both Ukraine and Russia remain significantly divided on potential avenues for peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is advocating for a “victory plan,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin asserts that negotiations can only commence if Ukraine relinquishes substantial territories and withdraws its NATO aspirations.

Switzerland, which has acted as a mediator and hosted a peace summit for Ukraine in June, participated as an observer in a 17-nation meeting on Friday, held alongside the U.N. General Assembly and led by China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, and Brazilian foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim.

Nicolas Bideau, the chief spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, stated to Reuters, “We participated in this meeting as an observer and we support this dynamic.”

Bideau indicated that Switzerland’s perspective on the plan initially presented in May has evolved following the inclusion of a reference to the U.N. Charter, which is the foundational treaty of the international organization dedicated to maintaining peace among nations. “This represents a notable shift in our assessment of these initiatives,” Bideau remarked. “A tangible diplomatic initiative organized by the Sino-Brazilian coalition could be of interest to us.”

Switzerland’s peace summit in Buergenstock, which excluded Russia, was perceived by some foreign policy analysts as a Western-driven attempt to marginalize Moscow, raising concerns that it deviated from Switzerland’s long-standing tradition of neutrality. In the aftermath, diplomats report that Bern has been actively seeking a venue for a follow-up summit, with countries from the “global South” identified as potential hosts.