Her constitutionally guaranteed neutrality Switzerland calls into question war in Ukrainewith the fact that the country produces ammunition that is purchased from Western countries to eventually reach Ukraine, and with Bern committed to promoting Tanks Leopard 2 in Kyiv.

The Swiss defense industry is pushing for the federal council to approve the export of weapons systems, arguing that any export embargo would scare away major Western clients. “Switzerland is in this position because of its decision to export weapons. Our country wants to continue exporting, maintain control over the illegal circulation of these weapons, and at the same time behave ethically,” says Oliver Digelmann, professor of international law at the University of Zurich.

The neutrality of the country is supported by 90% of the 8.7 million inhabitants. Western countries, however, now view Switzerland’s reluctance to export weapons to Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia as evidence of Berne’s cynical foreign policy hypocrisy. Switzerland remains the world’s safe haven for foreign assets, serving many of Putin’s Russian oligarchs. Western diplomats call Switzerland’s position “economically beneficial neutrality.”

From the Middle Ages

“Switzerland suffers from this attitude. He is outraged by the EU, the US is annoyed, even the Russians have complaints. Everyone knows that our policy is harmful, but neutrality is inherent in us. But let’s not forget that the idea behind Swiss neutrality in the late Middle Ages was the ability to supply mercenaries to all sides,” says Sascha Zala, a historian at the University of Bern.

Cantonal neutrality was established after the Napoleonic Wars when the Holy Alliance decided to create a neutral zone between the regional powers of Europe. The Hague Treaty of 1907 finally consolidated the nature of modern neutrality, when the country assumed obligations for its armed – if necessary – defense. According to critics of Bern’s policy, modern “armed neutrality” is now under threat.

“Armed neutrality requires an autonomous defense industry and soldiers, otherwise it is useless,” says Werner Salzmann, a member of the far-right Swiss People’s Party. Earlier this year, the liberal Free Democrats came up with a legal ploy to allow the purchase of Swiss-made weapons from countries “sharing Swiss democratic ideals.”

These countries will have the right, in turn, to export this material, for example, to Ukraine. However, last week a majority in the federal council, the People’s Party, rejected the law, arguing that it openly supports Ukraine and thereby violates neutrality. “There are two options: either we remain strictly neutral, or we decide that it is in our interest to belong to an alliance such as NATO. Switzerland must make a choice,” says Walter Wombmann of the People’s Party.

At the same time, the refusal of the Swiss state to impose economic sanctions against the Russians worried the West. Swiss justice has frozen only 7.1 billion euros of Russian funds, while, according to the Ministry of Finance, the Russians own assets in the country worth about 45 billion euros. According to European officials, Russian funds in Switzerland reach 200 billion euros.