‘Neutral’ Switzerland will not supply ammunition to Ukraine
Swiss Confederation President Alain Berset has rejected calls for his country to allow ammunition exports to Ukraine, citing the longstanding principle of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Berset said his government strongly condemned Russia’s war on Ukraine and saw it as a serious violation of international law. However, Berset also stressed that due to Switzerland’s long tradition of neutrality and related laws, it cannot provide military support to either party in a conflict.
“No one can ask us to break our own laws. No, no one can ask us to do that,” Berset said, adding that there is an ongoing debate within the country on this issue.
Switzerland has accepted some of the European Union sanctions against Russia, including freezing Russian assets, but has rejected requests by its European partners to re-export Swiss-made munitions to Ukraine.
Scholz also noted at the press conference that his country’s bilateral relations with Switzerland are in good shape. (AA)