Switzerland is under international pressure to take stricter measures against Russia. In Brussels, Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter indicated that this could happen on Monday.
Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter said in Brussels on Sunday that Switzerland wants to be part of the European solution.
Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter traveled to Brussels for an extraordinary meeting of EU justice and interior ministers on Sunday. Before she went into the boardroom, she told the mediathat she personally advocates tightening Swiss measures against Russia. The federal administration is currently preparing measures. But she cannot anticipate the meeting of the entire Federal Council scheduled for Monday morning.
Switzerland wants to be part of the solution
Switzerland wants to be part of the European solution, said Keller-Sutter in Brussels. This also refers to the support of the EU states in connection with the reception of refugees from Ukraine. This is the main topic of the meeting, in which Switzerland participates as a member of the Schengen region. But Keller-Sutter should also have to answer questions about the Federal Council’s sanctions policy.
BR Keller-Sutter takes part today on the ao. Meeting of justice and interior ministers of the Schengen countries on the war in Ukraine. The ?? is in solidarity and ready to help people in ?? in need. Now it needs a pan-European effort #Ukraine @SEMIGRATION @Europe2022FR pic.twitter.com/xX3ddLgy0a
— FDJP – DFJP – DFGP (@EJPD_DFJP_DFGP) February 27, 2022
Bern must defend himself against the suspicion of making himself an accomplice to Putin by standing aside. At home and abroad, the measures taken by Switzerland were judged to be rather weak. The Federal Council has so far focused on preventing EU sanctions from being circumvented via Switzerland. But he has shied away from freezing Russian assets, for example, as the US, Canada, the EU, the UK and apparently Japan are now planning to do.
Bundesbern receives a call from the USA
On the night of Sunday, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also shared on the short message service Twitter with that she had telephoned the Swiss State Secretary Livia Leu. She is the highest-ranking official in the foreign department of President Ignazio Cassis.
Today, @SwissMFAStatSec @LiviaLeu and I discussed Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. We pledged to hold Russia accountable for disregarding international law and violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. https://t.co/hITeIIydKB
— Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) February 26, 2022
In a statement, Sherman’s spokesman Ned Price said the two had reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sherman and Leu said they would “continue to coordinate to hold Russia accountable.”