Switzerland is ready to provide long-term support and intends to allocate for Ukraine at least another $1.7 billion over the period until 2028, Swiss Info reports citing Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
“Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stressed that his country is ready to provide long-term support to Ukraine and that Bern intends to allocate at least another 1.5 billion Swiss francs ($1.7 billion) to Kiev over the period until 2028,” the website said Thursday.
It noted that “this support will be provided as part of the overall international cooperation strategy announced by the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.”
“With the 300 million francs already allocated by Bern for 2023 and 2024, Switzerland will provide a total of at least 1.8 billion francs in support to Ukraine over the next six years,” it said.
In addition, the foreign minister speaking at the meeting of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington stressed the importance of the Lugano Declaration, adopted on July 5, 2022 in Lugano.
The declaration provides seven principles for Ukraine’s recovery process: partnership, focus on reform, transparency, democratic participation, multi-stakeholder engagement, equity and sustainability.
Cassis notes that “this document contains important guiding principles of international support for Ukrainian reforms.”
Before the conference in Washington, D.C., the Swiss foreign minister held consultations with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal.
Switzerland organized another batch of humanitarian aid for the population of Ukraine in the form of 40 heaters and the same number of generators, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
“The materials were collected in Switzerland by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which also organizes transport. The possibility of sending additional relief materials is being considered,” the report said.
The agency reported that trucks with this equipment left for Ukraine on December 23. The shipment is part of a broader action plan to help the people of Ukraine survive this winter.
It is noted that Switzerland already delivered thirty generators last week.
Switzerland followed the EU in imposing new sanctions against Russia, with 141 individuals and 49 legal entities added to the “black lists,” the Swiss government said in a statement.
“Switzerland, by amending the sanctions lists on December 21, thus joined the EU measures,” the press release said.
“Switzerland is amending the sanctions regime as part of the measures that the EU adopted in connection with the supply of Iranian drones to Russia and the continuing alarming situation in Ukraine,” the document specified.
The sanctions will take effect at 6 p.m. local time.
According to the statement, on December 16, the EU also imposed a ban on exports to Russia of a number of other categories of goods and services, and the Swiss government, in turn, will study these measures.
On December 16, the EU Council approved the ninth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions against the mining and energy sectors and a ban on exports of space industry goods and drones.
Among other things, the EU also added 168 more entities related to the defense industry of Russia to its “black lists. In addition, the ninth EU sanctions package against Russia included 144 individuals, including high-ranking Russian officials, MPs, military personnel and artists from Russia.
Switzerland on Wednesday approved the eighth package of sanctions against Russia, which includes the introduction of a “ceiling” on Russian oil prices.
“The Swiss Federal Council adopted another set of sanctions against Russia on November 23. The council approved the measures adopted by the European Union as part of the eighth sanctions package,” the document published on the Federal Council’s website reads.
“The sanctions include a legal basis for imposing a ‘ceiling’ on prices of Russian oil and oil products, as well as restrictions on iron and steel goods, aerospace products and goods of economic importance to Russia,” the statement stressed.
It is specified that the sanctions will take effect at 18:00 Wednesday local time (19:00 KSC).
The new measures also include a ban on the provision of IT, engineering, architectural and legal services to the Russian authorities and companies. In addition, a ban is introduced for citizens of Switzerland to occupy managerial positions in some companies owned by Russia.
The document notes that on October 12, the Swiss authorities added 30 more individuals and entities to the sanctions list for Russia.
The EU adopted the eighth package of sanctions with similar measures on October 6 in response to Russia’s escalation of military aggression against Ukraine.
At its meeting on November 2, the Swiss Federal Council adopted an action plan to mitigate the impact of the coming winter on the people of Ukraine. Switzerland is providing CHF 100 million in aid, in particular for projects financing the urgent rehabilitation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the press service of the Council has reported.
“Around 18 million people in Ukraine – some 40 per cent of the population – are dependent on aid due to the war. With the onset of winter, this number may rise to 24 million. Over 30 per cent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been damaged. The targeted attacks have left many places without access to drinking water, as well as disrupting power and telecommunications. Ukraine requires additional aid from the international community to deal with this emergency,” the Council said.
In this regard, the Federal Council adopted the Winter Aid Action Plan to support the people of Ukraine. In addition to its existing humanitarian undertaking in Ukraine and the region, including projects to support the urgent rehabilitation of energy infrastructure and alleviate the precarious humanitarian situation. Switzerland is helping Ukrainian energy companies purchase energy sources and spare parts, contributing to the repair of rail fastening systems (for the transport of heavy goods such as grain) and providing humanitarian support to help those worst affected by the war in Ukraine to prepare for winter (replacing windows, providing insulation and food, etc.). Efforts are also under way to determine if Switzerland can supply further relief goods such as generators, pumps or water treatment installations.
The Federal Council will submit a request to Parliament for a supplementary credit of CHF 76 million to cover these lines of action.
A memorandum of partnership in the field of digital transformation was signed between Ukraine and Switzerland, according to the Telegram channel of the President of Ukraine.
“A memorandum of partnership in the field of digital transformation was signed between Ukraine and Switzerland. We plan to deepen our cooperation to help restore Ukraine through digitalization,” the report says.
The parties also discussed the possibilities of Swiss assistance in supporting digitalization and restoration of telecommunications systems in the recently occupied territories of Ukraine.
