In a recent development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly mocked the upcoming Ukraine peace talks scheduled to be held in Switzerland. Putin sternly warned that Russia will not accept any enforced plans that overlook its interests in the region.

Switzerland's government had announced on Wednesday that it will host a high-level international conference in June, aimed at charting a path towards peace in Ukraine after more than two years of fighting. The Swiss government expressed hope that Russia would eventually join the peace process. However, Putin pointed out that Russia had not been invited to take part in the talks, while noting that Swiss officials acknowledge that a peace process cannot be achieved without Russia's involvement.

Expressing his dissatisfaction, Putin remarked, "They aren't inviting us there. Moreover, they think there is nothing for us to do there, but at the same time they say that it's impossible to decide anything without us. It would have been funny if it weren't so sad."

Russia has repeatedly dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace formula, which calls for Moscow to withdraw its troops, provide compensation to Ukraine, and face an international tribunal for its actions. During a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Putin reiterated that Russia is open to negotiations but will never accept "any schemes that have nothing to do with reality."

Putin has consistently maintained that Russian forces were deployed to Ukraine in February 2022 to safeguard Russian interests and prevent Ukraine from posing a significant security threat by potentially joining NATO. In contrast, Kyiv and its allies have condemned Russia's military campaign as an unprovoked act of aggression.

The Russian President also highlighted that Russian forces currently have the upper hand, citing the failure of Ukraine's counteroffensive last year. Putin argued that Ukraine and the West will eventually be compelled to accept a settlement on Moscow's terms.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed caution last week, asserting that negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine could only succeed if they account for Russia's interests. He dismissed the planned round of peace talks as a Western ploy to garner broader international support for Kyiv.

As the international community awaits the forthcoming peace talks in Switzerland, tensions remain high between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides emphasizing the need to address their respective concerns and interests for any meaningful progress towards a lasting resolution.