On Wednesday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry announced that Ukraine wanted Switzerland’s interests to be represented in Russia.
“Unfortunately, Switzerland has lost its status as a neutral state and cannot act either as a mediator or as a representative of Ukrainian interests,” spokesman for Russian diplomacy Ivan Netchaev told the press today.
The spokesman confirmed that Switzerland had asked for Moscow’s consent to represent Ukrainian interests there.
But he condemned Bern’s support for Kyiv and Switzerland’s sanctions against Russia over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“That is completely incomprehensible [um Estado] proposes mediation, representation or other services in good faith when doing so,” Netchaïev added.
If two states break off all or part of their relations, Switzerland is used to taking on part of its diplomatic or consular obligations, taking advantage of its neutrality.
The power of protection allows the states concerned to maintain a minimum of relationships and can also grant consular protection to the citizens of one of the states on the territory of the other.
In the 19th century, during the FrancoPrussian War of 18701871, Switzerland assumed the role of a protecting power for the first time, representing the interests of the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Grand Duchy of Baden in France.
Switzerland’s activity as a protecting power reached its peak during the Second World War, when it represented the interests of 35 states.
The Alpine state currently holds fewer than ten mandates, one of which has represented Russian interests in Georgia and Georgian interests in Russia since 2009.
She has also represented Iran’s interests in Egypt since 1979 and Iran’s interests in Canada since June 2019.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24 has already forced more than 12 million people to flee their homes more than six million internally displaced and more than six million to neighboring countries according to the latest UN data, which ranks them Refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (19391945).
According to the United Nations, around 16 million people in Ukraine are also dependent on humanitarian aid.
The Russian invasion which was justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “deNazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security was condemned by the general public of the international community, which responded with arms sales to Ukraine and the imposition of Sanctions against Russia are responding to virtually every industry, from banking to energy to sports.
The United Nations confirmed that 5,401 civilians died and 7,466 were injured in the war, stressing that the real number will be much higher and can only be known if there is access to fencedoff areas or intense fighting.
Also read: Agreement in principle that Kyiv will be represented by Switzerland in Russia
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