Swiss President: No arms to Ukraine, supports sanctions on Russia
(MENAFN) The President of Switzerland, Alain Berset, has reiterated that the country's constitutional policy of neutrality prohibits it from exporting arms to Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. However, he emphasized that supporting Western sanctions against Moscow does not contradict Switzerland's neutrality. Berset made these comments to reporters on Tuesday after his meetings at the United Nations.
Despite Switzerland not being a member of the European Union (EU), it has adopted several of the European Union's sanctions targeting Russia. Berset met with the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, last week, and emphasized Switzerland's "strong humanitarian commitment to Ukraine." In line with this commitment, Swiss lawmakers have proposed a near-USD140-million package aimed at supporting demining and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Switzerland's constitution stipulates that Swiss-made weapons and ammunition cannot be exported to countries involved in armed conflicts. However, this long-held stance has faced criticism in parliament. Liberal politician Thierry Burkart has argued that Swiss policy effectively "prevents our Western partners from supporting Ukraine." Nevertheless, Switzerland continues to prioritize its commitment to neutrality while providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
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