Bern, Switzerland – The Swiss Federal Council is moving to formalize sanctions against both Russia and Ukraine, a move rooted in the country’s interpretation of its neutrality obligations. While Switzerland has largely mirrored European Union sanctions targeting Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, it has simultaneously applied similar restrictions to Ukraine itself, a policy that has drawn criticism and is now the subject of proposed legislation.
The current sanctions against Ukraine, impacting a range of “war-relevant goods,” are being implemented under emergency powers, a legal mechanism the Federal Council now seeks to replace with a permanent law. This decision stems from the Swiss constitutional requirement to treat all parties in an international armed conflict equally when it comes to the export and transit of war materials by private entities.
According to Professor Jörg Künzli of the University of Bern, a specialist in international law, the Federal Council’s adherence to EU sanctions against Russia was a deliberate choice. Yet, he argues, the simultaneous application of restrictions to Ukraine was driven by a desire to avoid any perception of compromising Switzerland’s neutrality. “The Federal Council felt compelled to impose restrictions on Ukraine in the area of war-relevant goods,” Künzli explained.
The scope of these “war-relevant goods” extends beyond conventional weaponry to include items such as protective vests, helmets, camouflage netting, certain types of aviation fuel, and specific chemical substances. The EU sanctions against Russia aim to weaken the country’s ability to wage war, and Switzerland’s application of the same criteria to Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s status as the victim of aggression, has sparked debate.
While Switzerland already prohibits the export of war materials to conflict zones through its War Materials Act, the current emergency measures extend restrictions to a broader category of goods. The Federal Council maintains that a legislative basis is necessary to sustain these measures beyond the four-year limit of the emergency powers. A draft law is currently undergoing consultation.
The proposed legislation has elicited divergent reactions from Swiss politicians. National Council member Mauro Tuena of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) supports the move, arguing that sanctions should apply equally to all sides in a conflict. Conversely, National Council member Franziska Roth of the Social Democratic Party (SP) has called for the sanctions against Ukraine to be lifted, criticizing the Federal Council for treating the aggressor and the victim as equals, calling the situation “catastrophic.”
Recent public opinion surveys suggest a degree of willingness among the Swiss population to provide Ukraine with not only humanitarian aid but also military assistance. The outcome of the consultation process on the Ukraine Sanctions Act remains uncertain, with parties, associations, and businesses currently evaluating the proposed legislation. As of February 26, 2026, the Federal Council has not indicated any willingness to alter its course, leaving the future of Swiss-Ukraine relations and the interpretation of neutrality in a state of flux.
