Ukraine: Switzerland, the Chamber says no to Swiss weapons in Kiev

(ANSA) - GENEVA, JUNE 02 - The lower house of the Swiss Parliament yesterday rejected a proposal to authorise the transfer of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.
The vote took place on the day that the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset, met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Moldova. The two leaders discussed this topic in particular. The Swiss National Council voted against the proposal submitted by a parliamentary committee.
Historically, Switzerland maintains a neutral position, but the debate on the issue has agitated the country since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Switzerland has adopted all the sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow, which it considers compatible with its neutrality. Despite pressure from Kiev and its allies, Switzerland has so far refused to allow countries with Swiss-made weapons to re-export them to Ukraine.
At the CPE summit, Kiev and Chisinau urged European leaders to support them more against Moscow. Berset said on Twitter that he had a "productive meeting with Zelensky on the situation on the ground, Swiss humanitarian aid and reconstruction." Swiss national radio RTS said the meeting lasted 25 minutes. The two leaders also discussed frozen assets, Switzerland's role in mine clearance and the country's position on arms re-exports.
"I believe that Switzerland's position and role are well understood by the Ukrainians," he said, adding that he was ready to visit Kiev at any time. "We apply our law. We showed from the beginning that we were not indifferent to what was happening and that we were strongly committed to Ukraine.' (ANSA).