Cassis announces billion-dollar package for Ukraine

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The fact that the Federal Council prohibits the transfer of Swiss weapons to Ukraine is causing red heads abroad. At the same time, the US ambassador to Bern, Scott Miller, doubts Switzerland’s involvement in the sanctions against Russia. This week, the ambassadors of the G7 countries sharpened the tone: in a letter they reiterated that the federal government was not sufficiently implementing sanctions against Russian oligarchs. The pressure on our country is increasing.

But now the Federal Council is launching a liberation strike. As a first step, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (62) announced in Washington this week that Switzerland intends to contribute CHF 1.8 billion to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

More billions in investments announced

But that should be just the beginning. If Cassis has his way, much more money should flow: “The Federal Council is considering further billion-dollar investments in Ukraine in the next ten to twenty years,” the foreign minister told the “NZZ am Sonntag”. Switzerland wants to show solidarity with Ukraine and contribute to the stability of Europe.

Even though the Bundesrat has so far rejected all accusations from abroad, it is clear that the generous pledge is also an attempt to put pressure on Switzerland. The image of the country needs to be corrected again. The newspaper reports that the federal administration is already working on a new law that will allow further aid tranches.

A step too late for the centre-left

But the pressure does not only come from abroad. The federal parliament has also repeatedly demanded that Switzerland step up its commitment: if Switzerland does not allow arms deliveries to Ukraine, it must in any case increase its humanitarian aid. And huge. At the spring meeting, a center-left alliance called for a nearly $5 billion package with several advances.

Compared to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, SP alderman Eric Nussbaumer (62) also sees Cassis’ promise as a step that is too late. After Switzerland launched the reconstruction process last year with the Lugano Conference, not much happened: “That is why this announcement is absolutely necessary if we want to regain credibility for Europe and the US. There is no passive membership in the community of values ».

The right camp is concerned

On the other hand, it sounds a little different from the right camp. SVP national councilor Franz Grüter (59), chairman of the foreign policy committee, thinks the payment of CHF 1.8 billion is too high: “Above all, we must make it clear to Ukraine and its allies: if we pay for reconstruction, then we must commit the other states to reduce their threats against Switzerland.(dba)

Source:Blick