Lavrov jokes about Swiss minister being fired over photo, as sides prep Lugano meeting

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a joking remark about the Swiss foreign minister potentially being fired over a photo taken with him, in comments made as the two sides discussed preparations for an upcoming ministerial meeting.

The meeting in question is scheduled to take place in Lugano, Switzerland, on December 3-4 this year, according to the report on the discussions between the two countries' diplomatic representatives.

Light moment amid diplomatic planning

The joking exchange appears to have occurred in the context of broader discussions between Russian and Swiss officials focused on logistics and preparations for the December meeting, rather than being tied to a specific policy dispute.

Details on the substance of the Lugano ministerial meeting's agenda were not included in the report, which focused primarily on the light-hearted exchange between the officials during preparatory discussions.

The remark reflects the more informal moments that can accompany diplomatic preparations, even as the broader relationship between Russia and Western countries remains a subject of close international attention.