Ukrainian Ambassador calls on Switzerland to allow re-export of arms to Ukraine

Iryna Venediktova, the new Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland, has urged the Swiss government to allow the export of arms manufactured in Switzerland in order to help Ukraine defend itself against full-scale Russian aggression.

Source: Iryna Venediktova in an interview with Reuters

Details: Venediktova said that Switzerland's neutrality and the re-export of arms to Ukraine should be viewed as separate issues.

"I respect Swiss neutrality because it is a pillar of the Swiss state," she said. "But every day I stress that neutrality and re-export are two absolutely different terms."

"We don't ask, 'Give your weapons to us directly.' We just ask not to block [re-exports]... not to contribute to this crime of aggression. The whole world is watching, and the whole world expects a fair position, nothing more than a fair position," Venediktova said.

She also said she hoped that Switzerland would soon change its position because of the growing support for Ukraine’s plea to allow the re-export of Swiss-made weapons: "We need these weapons and ammunition as fast as possible. It is a question of survival of our people, our nation, our state."

Switzerland has been widely criticised internationally for its refusal to allow re-exports of arms that Ukraine could use to fight the Russian aggression. Switzerland has denied requests from Germany, Denmark and Spain to re-export Swiss war materiel to Ukraine. 

The Federal Council of Switzerland has recently confirmed its position on the ban on re-export of war materiel by third countries. The Swiss parliament has postponed the discussion of re-exports until next year.

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