Switzerland has shown it is no longer neutral by rejecting restrictions on unilateral sanctions, Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov says.
The Swiss electorate voted against the “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative on Sunday, which would have prohibited Bern from imposing sanctions on states involved in armed conflicts unless mandated by the United Nations. The proposal also aimed to restrict cooperation with military alliances unless Switzerland faced a direct or imminent attack.
In a post on social media 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.”
The provisional final tally showed 70.15% of voters opposed the initiative, while 29.85% supported it. The proposal was rejected in all cantons.
The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement. Its supporters argued that Switzerland had moved “dangerously close” to the European Union and NATO, particularly following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, thereby undermining its independence and credibility as a mediator.
Since February 2022, Switzerland has largely aligned itself with EU sanctions against Russia. Moscow subsequently placed the country on its list of “unfriendly” states and argued that Bern can no longer serve as a trusted neutral mediator.
The Swiss government maintains that adopting sanctions does not violate neutrality. Ahead of the referendum, the Federal Council emphasized that existing policies allow flexibility in responding to international developments while safeguarding security and independence.
Switzerland’s neutrality has been enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848. The country is not a NATO member but has cooperated with U.S.-led military alliances for decades, expanding ties in recent years.
Both the Federal Council and parliament urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing that a more rigid neutrality policy would limit Switzerland’s ability to address international crises.
