The Swiss government on Wednesday announced its accession to the European Union’s eighth package of sanctions against Russia, thus once again adopting measures in response to the war in Ukraine and disassociating itself from its historical neutrality.
Brussels announced a new round of sanctions at the beginning of October to which, a month and a half later, Bern has adhered, although it has modified some annexes to, among other matters, sanction some thirty individuals and entities on its own.
The measures announced by the EU-27 were aimed at introducing price caps on Russian oil and petroleum products, as well as restrictions on «other iron and steel products, aerospace goods and goods of economic importance to Russia».
«The measures also include a ban (…) on holding seats on the boards of directors of certain Russian state-owned enterprises. However, in doing so, Switzerland ensures that access to Swiss law is preserved and that the rule of law is fully guaranteed,» the Swiss government clarified in a statement.
The Swiss Federal Council remarked several months ago that it was committed to putting an end to the food and energy crisis, and has now decided to allow the purchase of certain fertilizers, provided that they are destined for a third country.
Although Switzerland has historically been known for maintaining a neutral position in international conflicts, it has abandoned this position to apply sanctions against Russia as a method of punishment for the invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which began nine months ago.
