Ukraine Ambassador in Bern Says What He Really Thinks of Neutral Switzerland At Least Five Dead in Christmas Eve Bus Crash in Spain

You were in Kiev and shortly afterwards returned to Bern. How long did it take you?

Artem Rybchenko: About two days. I drove from Kiev to Vinnytsia by car because the train was not running for a few hours. Then 15 hours by train to Vienna – and from there by plane to Zurich.

How did you experience the atmosphere in Kiev after the debilitating rocket fire?

I was in Ukraine for the sixth time since the beginning of the war on February 24. During these visits a different picture emerged each time. In the summer there were significantly fewer problems with energy and heating than now. The situation was also better in the hospitals. This time, however, something struck me most of all: how strong people are inside. You really want to win this war. They even believe that Russia has since lost him.

In all seriousness?

Yes. What are the Russians doing? You lose military. So they resort to cheap solutions and attack our civilian infrastructure from outside the country. They did that in the summer. Because they prevented the shipment of agricultural products. In winter, they attack the energy sector. And in the spring they will probably try to attack Ukraine’s water system.

What do you mean?

Sometimes we have floods in the spring when the water flows from the mountains in western Ukraine to the plains. Then we have to take into account that the Russians will attack the critical infrastructure system with missiles, which would again pose a problem for agriculture due to the floods.

How is life in Kiev?

Do you know what is happening today in a typical Kiev high-rise building?

no What then?

There is an emergency box in the elevator – in case there is no power after a bomb attack and the elevator gets stuck. This box contains water, biscuits and medicines.

Do people still dare to use an elevator?

In Kiev there are many tall buildings with elevators. If you live on the second or third floor, you can of course take the stairs. But if you live on the 25th or 35th floor, it’s different.

After four and a half years as ambassador to Switzerland, you said goodbye to President Ignazio Cassis on Tuesday. How was that goodbye?

Very friendly and warm. Ignazio Cassis is a good friend of Ukraine. As a doctor, he understands the feelings of people who lose arms or legs in a war. And as a doctor he has always remained a human being – as a federal president who has to follow world events closely.

How did you like working with him?

I was with him in Vilnus, Odessa and Kiev the year before the war – and in Lugano and Kiev during the war. We also talked for a long time on the train journey from Poland to Ukraine. Communication with him and his team was always very positive, open and transparent.

What will you do after your return to Ukraine?

I will be special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

It is a very responsible job.

This is not a job. That is my life. Even today I fall asleep thinking about my new assignment and get up with it. Everyone who works for the state in this time of war is trying to make the best contacts and make the best and quickest decisions. He wants to restore security to his country and people. During this time, you are not only responsible for your own family, but for the entire nation. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and our team are proof of that.

You just met Zelensky in Kiev. How was the meeting?

Positive as always. He is the best possible president of Ukraine in this war. Although he is not a classic politician, he exudes courage and enthusiasm. He energizes his visitors – you want to do everything you can to help him.

Does the conversation also show that the new ambassador Irina Venediktova has to act harder in Switzerland because of the money from Russian oligarchs?

To be honest, we talked more about the time I was in Bern. The main focus during this period was the reconstruction of Ukraine. The conference in Lugano was the starting signal for this. We have discussed how to continue this process.

Nevertheless: is the Ukrainian embassy focusing more on Russian oligarch funds in Switzerland?

It is not easy to give a clear answer to this question. Each ambassador receives instructions from the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs on how to work in ‘his’ country. Of course we know that Switzerland is a very important financial and banking center in Europe and in the world. Even in my day we paid a lot of attention to oligarch money. Oleksii Makeiev, the Special Representative for Sanctions Policy, met with experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) and the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (Seco). Makeiev is now the new Ukrainian ambassador to Germany.

So Russian oligarchs and their funds in Switzerland will actually be more in the picture?

You could be the center of attention. But that is not aimed at Switzerland. Our goal is that Russian oligarchs with money in Switzerland who are involved in this war cannot just use this money for their hobby or pass it on to their children. It is only suitable if it is used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. But I want to emphasize something here.

What?

We respect international laws, we respect national laws, and we do nothing against the national laws of countries where the oligarch funds are located. In Switzerland, new instruments are needed to determine who really owns certain funds. Parliament must approve it.

How much Russian money is frozen in Switzerland?

Officially it is 100 million francs as of today.

That’s not much.

It could be more.

Should Switzerland fundamentally do more for Ukraine? The “Sonntags-Blick” showed that aid is rather modest compared to other countries.

Switzerland is among the top ten countries when it comes to support for Ukraine. She started the reconstruction process in Lugano, she just approved a second package of 100 million for Ukraine, this time for winter aid. Switzerland finances houses in Ukraine. With Federal President Cassis and President of the National Council Irène Kälin, the two most important representatives of the country were in the middle of the war in Kiev. And Switzerland also helps with its wealth of experience.

How?

In clearing land and building shelters. Switzerland helps with both with know-how. In a first step, a team of five to ten people from the Ukraine will come to Switzerland and learn how to demine and build protective bunkers. We later set up working groups in Ukraine, which were reinforced with local Swiss specialists – as well as politicians such as Nik Gugger, the co-chairman of the Switzerland-Ukraine Friendship Group.

Ukrainians in Switzerland say Switzerland should put pressure on Ukraine to develop into a post-war country free of corruption and oligarchs. How do you see it?

President Zelensky has made it clear that it is time to build a whole new country. A brand new Ukraine – without corruption. We already have five institutions against corruption. And Ukraine, even in war, still has a parliamentary presidential system. Of course, the position of the president is currently very high: in war, by law, he is the commander-in-chief of the army. European integration is essential for Ukraine. This brings it closer to Europe. And that opens the doors for us to many programs that Brussels finances.

How do you feel about returning to Ukraine?

With a feeling of great gratitude towards Switzerland and its people. You do a lot for our country and our people. (aargauerzeitung.ch)