Switzerland Is Renouncing Neutrality To Sanction Russia And Putin

The Swiss government will accept EU sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine and will immediately freeze all assets belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a statement said Monday.

“We are in an emergency situation,” President Ignacio Cassis told reporters on Monday, according to Reuters.

The country will close its airspace to flights from Russia and impose entry bans on a number of individuals linked to Switzerland and close to the Russian president, the government said.

“Russia’s unprecedented military attack on a sovereign European state was a decisive factor in the Federal Council’s decision to change its previous position on sanctions,” it added.

In response, Russia’s air transport agency announced on Tuesday that it had closed its airspace to Switzerland.

Switzerland has faced growing pressure to join other Western powers and impose sanctions on Russia.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said last week that the bloc expects Switzerland “to follow suit in defending the principles on which our communities and countries are based”.

Switzerland has long sought to maintain neutrality, and the Alpine country has hosted numerous peace talks and talks between geopolitical opponents. In addition, there is a banking industry that serves many of the richest people in the world.