The results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center indicate that Ukrainians continue to hold a high level of positive sentiment toward Switzerland, although the overall share of positive assessments has declined slightly compared to August 2025—from 71.7% to 67.8%. At the same time, negative attitudes have decreased from 3.3% to 0.7%, confirming a consistently low level of critical perception of this country.
The breakdown of responses shows a balanced positive perception: 29.6% of respondents rated their attitude as “entirely positive,” and another 38.2% as “mostly positive.” Thus, Switzerland remains in the group of countries with a predominantly positive image among Ukrainians, although the trend indicates a certain increase in the share of neutral assessments.
A neutral position was chosen by 30.1% of respondents, which is a relatively high figure and may indicate the country’s limited informational presence or a lack of direct experience of interaction. Negative assessments remain minimal: 0.7% of respondents indicated a “mostly negative” attitude, while the share of completely negative responses is virtually nonexistent. Another 1.4% of respondents were undecided.
Compared to the previous period, the key trend is not so much an increase in negativity as a shift of some positive assessments into the neutral category. This indicates a certain cooling of emotional perception, but without the formation of a negative attitude.
“Switzerland is traditionally perceived by Ukrainians as a stable and neutral country with a high level of trust. At the same time, we see that some respondents are shifting to a neutral position, which may be linked to the reduced visibility of specific actions or projects. This does not mean a deterioration of the image, but rather indicates a need for more active communication,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the survey results confirm that Switzerland maintains a positive image in Ukrainian society; however, the dynamics of the ratings indicate the importance of a constant presence in the information sphere and the development of bilateral ties to sustain this level of trust.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Switzerland ranks 27th in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $994.7 million. At the same time, imports of Swiss goods significantly exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of over $780 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, SWITZERLAND, UKRAINE, URAKIN
The Swiss Federal Council has approved the launch of a housing tax reform effective January 1, 2029—from that point on, homeowners who live in their own homes will no longer pay tax on the so-called imputed rental value (Eigenmietwert).
This is one of the most unique tax rules in Europe: until now, living in one’s own house or apartment in Switzerland was considered imputed income, on which income tax was levied. As part of the reform, this system will be abolished for both primary and secondary residences, while parliament simultaneously provided a constitutional option for cantons to introduce a special tax on second homes.
The reform became possible after Swiss voters supported changes to housing taxation in a referendum on September 28, 2025. According to Swissinfo, 57.7% of voters supported the reform. The Federal Council rejected requests from several Alpine cantons to postpone the launch of the new system until at least 2030, deciding to maintain the effective date of the changes as 2029.
For the housing market, this means not only the abolition of the imputed rental income tax but also a revision of related tax deductions. According to the official explanation, the current model was based on a balance between taxing imputed income and the ability to deduct mortgage interest and housing maintenance costs from the tax base. Following the reform, this mechanism will be significantly altered, and the cantons will have to adapt their own tax regimes over the coming years.
For foreign investors and real estate buyers, this news is important primarily as a signal of further adjustments to the rules governing home ownership in Switzerland. At the same time, the final impact of the reform on the tax burden will depend on the structure of real estate ownership, the presence of a mortgage, and how specific cantons exercise their right to impose a separate tax on second homes.
Against the backdrop of an acute housing shortage and record low vacancy rates, the Zurich authorities are strengthening their approach to the “fair allocation” of affordable housing, including through restrictions on under-occupancy, so that large apartments are not occupied by single people.
This is not a general ban on the entire rental market, but primarily on the city’s housing stock (municipal, including subsidized, apartments), where strict minimum occupancy rules are already in place: “the number of rooms minus one” equals the minimum number of occupants. For example, a 4.5-room apartment must be occupied by at least three people, and if it remains underoccupied after a set period, the tenant must move out.
The background to the decision is the extremely low proportion of vacant housing. According to city data, as of June 1, 2025, there were 235 vacant apartments in Zurich, and the vacancy rate remained at 0.1%.
At the same time, the city is promoting its updated housing strategy, Programm Wohnen 2026, which confirms the goal of increasing the share of non-profit (gemeinnützig) rental housing to one-third by 2050. The documents indicate that the share of such apartments is currently around 27%, and that around 25,000 additional non-commercial apartments will be needed to achieve the goal.
The city’s housing fund is a separate financial instrument: a model worth CHF 300 million (CHF 100 million in property loans and CHF 200 million in framework loans) has been approved as a mechanism to support the creation of more affordable housing, with funds from the fund to be disbursed starting in 2025.
In a broader context, the city is also discussing the extension of similar principles (including verification of living conditions and minimum occupancy) to the segment of “affordable” apartments owned by private owners, if they are rented out under preferential rules.
On January 21, Ukraine and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, launching a new large-scale economic sustainability program called “Competitiveness for Ukraine’s Recovery 2026-2030.”
“The total budget of the program is CHF 30 million. It is a long-term support tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is particularly important for supporting SMEs in the current difficult conditions,” said Serhiy Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, on Facebook.
According to him, the priority areas include agribusiness and food processing, sustainable construction, woodworking, mechanical engineering, and IT.
As specified by the Ministry of Economy, the memorandum defines four strategic areas of work, including simplifying the conditions for doing business (improving the regulatory framework, digitizing public services, and reducing regulatory pressure on entrepreneurs) and strengthening institutions (supporting business associations and regional development agencies that will help SMEs enter new markets).
This list also includes the modernization of enterprises (direct technical assistance to businesses for the introduction of green technologies, automation, and EU quality standards) and the development of human capital (joint work with the International Labor Organization to involve veterans, women, and internally displaced persons in economic processes).
The program will cover 10 regions of Ukraine where Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are already actively working, as well as those regions covered by other Swiss-funded projects. It is expected that this approach will ensure the even recovery of communities and the creation of jobs directly in the regions.
The program is fully synchronized with state strategies and the Ukraine Facility plan, the Ministry of Economy added.
On the night of January 1, a major fire broke out at Le Constellation bar during New Year’s celebrations in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana (canton of Valais). According to updated data from the authorities, about 40 people died and another 119 were injured, many with severe burns.
As reported by representatives of the Valais cantonal police at a briefing on January 2, 113 of the 119 victims have already been officially identified. Among them are 71 Swiss citizens, 14 French citizens, 11 Italian citizens, 4 Serbian citizens, and one citizen each from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and Portugal. The nationality of 14 other victims is still being determined.
A detailed breakdown of the nationalities of the victims has not yet been officially published, as identification is still ongoing. However, the Italian Golf Federation has reported the death of 16-year-old athlete Emanuele Galepini; Reuters has named him as the first confirmed Italian citizen among the victims.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine has not yet received confirmation of the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the dead or injured; the Ukrainian Embassy in Switzerland is in contact with local authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing; among the versions discussed by the media with reference to the investigation is the use of sparklers/spark candles during service in the crowded establishment.
The Swiss economy contracted by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter due to a decline in exports amid the trade conflict with the United States.
Official data confirmed the preliminary estimate announced at the beginning of last week.
This is the first decline in the Swiss economy since the second quarter of 2023.
In August, the US imposed a 39% tariff on imports from Switzerland, the highest rate among all developed economies. The countries later concluded a trade agreement, and the tariff was reduced to 15%.
‘The data should be viewed in the context of recent volatility in foreign trade,’ the press release said. ‘Strong exports of chemical and pharmaceutical products in anticipation of changes in US foreign trade policy triggered a compensatory decline in the following months.’
According to revised data, Swiss GDP grew by 0.2% in April-June (previously estimated at 0.1%).
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical centre made a video analysis of the prospects for the Ukrainian and global economies. For more details, see the video — https://youtu.be/kQsH3lUvMKo?si=F4IOLdLuVbYmEh5P
