“I say be careful”: Blocher fears Putin now wants to attack other countries “France is on fire and the president is going to the concert”

In 2000 you wrote the manifesto “Freedom instead of socialism”. In it you discussed the famine of 3 to 7 million people in Ukraine, which Stalin caused. Where do you see parallels between Stalin and Putin?
Christoph Blocher: Putin is not Stalin. Stalin was much more criminal than Putin. But it’s insane that he started this war with Ukraine. One thing is clear: the way of thinking of Stalin and Putin is not so different. Both feel like Russians.​

How?
Both want great power and put the authoritarian state in the foreground. Under Stalin, anyone who rebelled against his state was eliminated. Putin is also cracking down on political opponents. The freedom of the individual does not count. And all means are good there.

So why not take a clearer stand against Putin and Russia?
Internally, 98 percent of the Swiss population is on the side of Ukraine in this war. I too reject this war. Ukraine is very corrupt and has a dubious democracy. But it has – at least superficially – done nothing that violates international law. Nor will I engage in the argument that the US should have provoked this war. The attack is a Russian attack – and it must be condemned. We must ensure that this war ends within the means of the small, free state of Switzerland.

Do you see a role for Switzerland in that?
After Switzerland violated its neutrality, I don’t know if it is still a viable country for negotiations. For this, Switzerland would have to be strictly neutral again. Unfortunately, since we have been involved in non-military coercive measures, Switzerland is a party to the war.

Can Switzerland get back into the game?
I don’t think that is ruled out. But it should return to full neutrality, as our country did in 1938.

That seems unthinkable.
Don’t talk about unthinkable. At the moment I don’t think it’s realistic. Time will tell.

The SVP is considered a Russia-friendly party. That has a lot to do with Roger Köppel’s course. What do you think?
Who denigrates SVP as pro-Russia? The opponents of the SVP! With his «World Week», Köppel is characterized by the fact that he brings up all sides. But he is not on Putin’s side either. I talk to him.

Are you sure? Köppel says the war in Russia is wrong. But since the beginning of the war, he himself has never sharply criticized Putin and Russia, unlike Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
I read it differently in “Weltwoche”.

What’s next?
I’m afraid that Putin is not only interested in a war against Ukraine. Russia has not yet digested the end of the Soviet Union.

Which countries are you thinking of?
To the countries that are formally no longer under Russian influence after the end of the Soviet Union: Poland, Uzbekistan and the Baltic states. For this you need to know the Russian soul! I say watch out.