Switzerland ready to pay for defending democracy in Russia-Ukraine war

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said Russia’s war in Ukraine is driven by “devastating madness”, and Switzerland is ready to pay the price for defending freedom and democracy, Agence France-Presse reported. 

While Switzerland has imposed the same sanctions on Russia like the rest of the European Union (EU), the president insists that the famous Swiss neutrality was not at stake. Cassis further said that Switzerland couldn’t stand by as “democracy and barbarism” confronted each other, and the nation was prepared to take an economic hit. 

Writing in Le Temps, the newspaper, Cassis said “On February 24, the face of the world changed, and not in a good way. We must valiantly and tirelessly defend freedom and democracy. This has a price. A price that Switzerland is ready to assume”, and added, “This war is driven by a devastating madness which shatters all the principles and values of our civilisation”. 

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The president also noted that this conflict would have an eventual impact on the Swiss economy. Cassis said the country has to deal with “sustained and significant inflation and rising energy prices“. 

He added, “There is no solution which, with a wave of a magic wand, would save Switzerland from the consequences resulting from the current situation”. 

Cassis has further clarified that Switzerland wouldn’t be sending military aid to Ukraine but has asserted that neutrality shouldn’t be mistaken for indifference. He said “Switzerland cannot tolerate this war without reacting”, and also added, “Russia has massively violated the prohibition of the use of force, a principle anchored in international law. By remaining inactive, Switzerland would have played the game of the aggressor”. 

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Most of the world has condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and placed sanctions on the nation as well as oligarchs. However, President Vladimir Putin hasn’t been dissuaded and continues his onslaught on Ukraine, vowing to “denazify” and “demilitarize” the nation.