It remains unlikely that weapons will be passed on: Zelensky begged for free in Switzerland

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The killing in Ukraine continues. Every day. During his tour of Switzerland, President Volodymyr Selensky (45) is looking for all the help he can get in the defensive war against Russia. Federal President Viola Amherd (61) has already promised him that we will plan a peace summit together. But Zelensky hopes for more.

On Monday, Zelenskiy also spoke to party leaders about the possibility of passing on Swiss-made weapons and ammunition. For reasons of neutrality, this is still not possible and therefore Switzerland has come under a lot of international criticism.

Politics remains difficult

Over the past year and a half, the parties have outdone each other with suggestions on how indirect arms supplies to Ukraine could still be made possible. But so far everything has been shot.

The Security Committee of the National Council (SiK) is making a new attempt. A design from our own ranks is already on the agenda on Monday. “It is our last chance,” says SiK president Priska Seiler Graf (55, SP).

The current non-re-export ban should now be limited to five years for certain countries with similar values ​​to Switzerland. However, they must commit not to transfer the weapons to countries where human rights are seriously violated.

Furthermore, the country of destination must not be involved in a violent conflict. Cases in which the UN Security Council or the General Assembly declare by a two-thirds majority that a war of aggression is contrary to international law should also be excluded. But this addition seems to be off the table again.

“Needs to be thoroughly discussed again”

According to reports, the Commission is currently discussing seven different variants of the law, none of which has yet achieved a majority. The pressure from abroad has decreased. The urgency suddenly seems less great.

The SVP and the Greens are against arms deliveries to Ukraine, including indirect ones. The SVP for neutrality, the Greens for pacifist reasons.

SVP security politician Mauro Tuena (51) is also critical: “You are certainly not allowed to do anything that violates neutrality. It remains to be seen whether the Commission can still find a solution here.”

“In my opinion, the matter should be thoroughly discussed again in the committee,” said Center National Councilor Martin Candinas (43). There appears to be little optimism within the Security Committee at the moment.

“Make us ridiculous if we don’t find a solution”

There are also delays because the Commission is being reconstituted after the parliamentary elections in the autumn. Even new members are skeptical. For some, the indirect transfer of weapons to Ukraine is at odds with efforts to reach a peace summit.

Commission chairman Seiler Graf remains optimistic that a solution will still be found. If all goes well, the National Council could deal with the issue in the summer, and the Council of States could then deal with the issue in the autumn session at the earliest. Only: “A referendum seems certain. The electorate would probably not make a decision until 2025.”

The indirect transfer of arms could also fail within the Commission. “However, we would be fooling ourselves if we did not find a solution,” says Seiler Graf.

However, until the Swiss War Materials Act is amended, it will likely no longer be of any use to Zelensky and Ukraine.

Source:Blick