On top of closing its airspace to Russian aircraft and banning Swiss entities and individuals from doing business with certain Russian companies, officials and businessmen, Bern also unveiled punitive measures targeting directly Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.Īdditionally, Bern pledged to deliver “ relief supplies” for Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Poland.ĭuring the escalation over Ukraine back in 2014-2015, Switzerland opted not to impose sanctions on Russia, or any other parties involved. Switzerland’s sanctions are essentially identical to those the EU imposed on Russia in late February. READ MORE: Europeans to ‘pay a price’ for Russia sanctions – top EU official It marks a major break with tradition as Switzerland has been neutral for decades.Įxplaining his decision during a press conference in Bern on February 28, Cassis described the current situation in Ukraine as “ extraordinary,” adding that it called for “ extraordinary measures.” The Swiss Head of State, however, insisted that the unprecedented measures did not mean that Switzerland had ceased to be neutral. On Monday, Ignazio Cassis, who serves as Switzerland’s President and Foreign Minister, announced that his country was joining other Western nations in slapping sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. Russia’s aviation authority released a statement on Tuesday saying that “ in keeping with international law and as a retaliatory measure” in the wake of the ban Switzerland had imposed on Russian aircraft, Moscow was “ restricting flights by civil aircraft” belonging to or registered in Switzerland.

Moscow has closed its airspace to Swiss planes, mirroring Bern’s decision on Monday to prohibit Russian aircraft from flying over the Alpine country.

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