Switzerland to Vote on Neutrality as Russia Sanctions Hang in Balance

Swiss citizens will vote Sunday, Sept. 27, on how to enshrine the country’s neutrality, with implications for its sanctions on Moscow and military ties with Europe going forward.Should the votes go through, Switzerland will only cooperate militarily with other Western nations if the country itself comes under attack, and only impose sanctions that are passed by the UN Security Council, over which Moscow has veto power.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“The initiative calls for a stricter approach to neutrality and seeks to enshrine in the Constitution the provision that Switzerland’s neutrality is perpetual and armed,” the Swiss government’s explanatory notes say.“Switzerland should not join any military or defense alliance, nor should it cooperate with any such alliance – unless it is under military attack or an attack is imminent.”“Furthermore, it must not take part in military conflicts between third countries, nor impose sanctions on belligerent states. Exceptions would include United Nations (UN) sanctions and measures designed to prevent the circumvention of sanctions,” the notes add.Pro Schweiz, a national-conservative group linked to the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), spearheaded the initiative, which has also received backing from Moscow, according to Politico.Politico noted that the Swiss government and other major political parties largely opposed the initiative. In recent years, the government has moved in lockstep with the EU to implement consecutive economic sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, energy revenues, and banking apparatus. Other Topics of Interest ArcelorMittal Shuts Plant in Kryvyi Rih Due to Russian Strikes, Expects $1B Impairment Charge Over the past five weeks, five people have been killed and 17 injured in four Russian missile attacks on the plant. The Swiss government has enacted a total ban on the purchase and import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in February, aligning domestic regulations with the EU’s 19th sanctions package to curtail fossil fuel revenues financing the Kremlin’s war effort.Felix Baumann, Switzerland’s ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova, shared in April the country’s stance on neutrality and its humanitarian commitments in an interview with former Canadian ambassador Natalka Cmoc hosted by Kyiv Post. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.