“Switzerland has no interest in chaos”: Strong emotions in Kiev for Berset during the meeting with Zelensky

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Federal President Alain Berset (51) made an eventful surprise visit to Kiev on Saturday. After two commemoration ceremonies and a one-on-one conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Selensky, the Federal President had to be taken to safety due to a rocket alert.

“I am here to reaffirm Switzerland’s solidarity with Ukraine, now and in the long term,” the Federal President said during his talks.

No sooner had he emphasized Switzerland’s support for Ukraine’s efforts to export its wheat despite the Russian blockade than the Federal Council and the other leading politicians had to hastily leave the paneled and gilded rooms of the presidential palace. Zelensky, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics were there.

A cruise missile alarm had sounded over Kiev, which ultimately turned out to be a false alarm, as often happens, the security services said at the request of the Keystone-SDA journalist present on the spot.

Berset spent twenty minutes in the shelter

Berset and the Swiss delegation had to seek shelter in the basement of the building for about twenty minutes. The delegation also included Patricia Danzi, Director of the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Their safety was never in danger. In any case, the Ukrainian presenters remained very quiet throughout the episode, the Keystone-SDA journalist reported.

A few hours earlier, shortly before Berset’s arrival, the Ukrainians had already had to take refuge in the bomb shelters for six hours after Russia attacked Kiev with about seventy drones. Virtually all of these can be destroyed by air defenses.

Advice on grain exports

After these incidents, the Federal Council was able to continue its state visit with a working lunch with Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal. He received it after the 45-minute bilateral conversation with Zelensky. On this occasion, Berset was able to reaffirm Switzerland’s support to the affected country and once again condemn Russian aggression: “This is causing chaos in the world, and Switzerland has no interest in chaos,” Berset said.

His message to Kiev was not to forget Ukraine, despite the numerous crises simultaneously shaking the world. Berset also used his twelve-hour state visit to participate in the second international summit on food security. This was initiated by Kiev. The aim was to find passages, corridors or ‘logistical alternatives’ to allow the continuation of Ukrainian grain exports to the world.

These deliveries have been largely blocked since Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grains initiative last summer. This disrupted supply chains worldwide.

Switzerland gives Ukraine 3 million francs

Lithuanian Prime Minister Simonyte drew parallels with the terrible Holodomor famine, which killed between 2.6 and 7 million people (estimates vary) in Ukraine in 1932 and 1933. The current Russian regime uses the same methods as the then Soviet Russia under Joseph Stalin, which according to them and the European Parliament orchestrated the Holodomor genocide (a version denied by Russia).

Berset announced that Switzerland will provide three million francs for the food program in Ukraine. He recalled that Switzerland recently allocated another 100 million francs to support demining, especially in agricultural areas.

Berset commemorated the victims in Bucha

Early in the morning, as soon as he got off the night train, the Federal President experienced an emotional moment in Butscha. The city was the scene of a horrific massacre of civilians by the Russian army in the spring of 2022 – a version denied by the Kremlin despite numerous documents.

His walk through the town’s Orthodox church and along the edge of the mass grave where dozens of bodies were found was filled with emotion. Berset laid flowers and spoke briefly with Attorney General Andriy Kostin.

After and before the rocket alarm, Berset took part in the commemorations of the Holodomor famine in the National Museum in Kiev, accompanied, among others, by Zelenskyj and his wife Olena Selenska. Berset placed a candle at the site before continuing his visit, which ultimately resembled more of a sprint than a marathon of obstacles. (SDA)

Source: Blick