Switzerland cannot supply Ukraine with weapons due to its neutrality, but it helps it with humanitarian aid and has promised 5 billion francs for the reconstruction of the country. This was stated by the president of the confederation Viola Amherd.
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“Because of our neutrality, we cannot supply weapons. But we provided humanitarian aid, held the first reconstruction conference in Lugano and promised 5 billion francs in reconstruction aid,” Amherd said.
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However, the president recalled that her country previously supplied Germany with 25 Leopard 2 tanks, “which are not subject to restrictions related to the need to comply with the right of neutrality,” and is now discussing a request from Rheinmetall to purchase Leopard 1 tanks, which Germany can then send to Kyiv.
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“The right of neutrality sets clear boundaries for us regarding the supply of weapons to countries that are in a state of armed conflict,” Amherd said.
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At the same time, in her opinion, a certain space for action in this area is left by the fact that the policy of neutrality is based on the Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 1907, when war was still a legitimate means of promoting national interests.
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“The right to self-defense and the prohibition on the use of force enshrined in the UN Charter have changed the situation. We must and will discuss this in Switzerland,” the president said.
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Bern confirmed his commitment to strengthening ties with NATO, including participation in military exercises and improving military interoperability, in the foreign policy strategy adopted by the government on January 31. Switzerland, which is not a member of NATO and the EU, supports, despite its neutral status, EU sanctions against Russia introduced in connection with a special military operation in Ukraine.
