The Federal Council condemns Russia’s international legal action. In addition, the state government wants to avoid the EU sanctions could be circumvented via Switzerland. The discussion about the Swiss candidacy in the UN Security Council takes on a new urgency.

Switzerland suddenly prefers to remain silent. Ignazio Cassis, President and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), did not appear before the media on Wednesday. The day before, State Secretary Livia Leu had announced that her boss would comment on the current situation in Ukraine after the Federal Council meeting.

There were long whispers of a press conference later in the afternoon in Bern – but finally, the FDFA sent out a dry media release: the Federal Council had dealt with the situation in eastern Ukraine at its meeting. The state government condemns Russia’s illegal actions.

No questions about running for the Security Council

In addition, the Federal Council has decided not to adopt the EU’s sanctions against Moscow but wants to ensure that they cannot be circumvented via Switzerland. Switzerland is thus staying true to the path it has been following since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Since Russia recognized the two separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, tensions in eastern Ukraine have increased massively, the FDFA continues: “The Federal Council is monitoring the current situation with great concern, as there is a risk of significant further escalations.”

The FDFA obviously does not want to answer any questions at the moment. Neither whether they want to play an active role as a mediator, nor what consequences the de facto war in Europe will have for Switzerland’s candidacy for the UN Security Council.

With his march on the Ukrainian border, Russian President Vladimir Putin is questioning the European security architecture. Instead of collective security, he seems to be banking on war as a continuation of politics. In the current conflict, the UN’s hands are largely tied because of Russia’s right of veto in the Security Council.

SVP wants to pull the ripcord

This June, Switzerland wants to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time for two years. EDA head Cassis said in an interview last autumn that Switzerland wanted to bring different people and opinions together: “We can be the oil in the gears of the UN Security Council.”

The SVP sees it very differently. With a membership from 2023, Switzerland is going into the devil’s kitchen for two years, the People’s Party argues.

The UN Security Council is about nothing less than “maintaining world peace”. In addition to Russia, the four other permanent members – France, the USA, the United Kingdom and China – have the right to veto decisions. The ten non-permanent seats are allocated to countries from all regions of the world according to an allocation key.

In the upcoming spring session, the candidature is on the agenda for the last time in Bundesbern. The SVP is the only party trying to pull the ripcord in the last few meters. The group has already unanimously agreed to fight the candidacy. The mere scheduling of the debate had previously caused background noise.

Criticism also from the center party

The office of the National Council has limited the business to a short debate. That means: SVP National Councilor Roger Köppel will be allowed to present the arguments against Switzerland’s membership. Secretary of State Cassis will answer him. And that’s it.

In addition to the SVP, only the center is said to have spoken out in favor of an in-depth debate. Not because she is also unanimously opposed to running for office. But because you think that little Switzerland should be discussed again properly before she takes a seat at the table with the greats of world politics.

There are a few voices in the middle party that are critical of the application for membership, such as that of Councilor of States Beat Rieder. From the point of view of neutrality policy, membership of the UN Security Council would be tantamount to a paradigm shift, argues Rieder: “It will be difficult for Switzerland to live up to its previous role as a neutral state and as a mediator, especially since during membership it will inevitably choose one or the other the other side must confess in cases of conflict.”

From the point of view of the SVP, Switzerland is jeopardizing its credibility as a neutral state. It was “extremely naive” to believe that the country could continue to offer its “good offices” as a member of this body. “If we are perceived as a party in a conflict, nobody asks us for diplomatic help anymore,” says SVP National Councilor Franz Grüter.

Putin understander? APK President Grüter under barrage

The situation around Ukraine shows that an armed conflict is also possible in Europe at any time. It is extremely risky for a neutral state like Switzerland to be actively involved in a committee that also decides on military action, Grüter continued.

The Lucerne native, who also chairs the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Council (APK), was caught in a media barrage on Wednesday. Grüter was criticized because – in contrast to politicians from all other parties – he had spoken out firmly against any sanctions imposed by Switzerland.

In Blick, he said: “Russia must receive a guarantee from the United States and NATO that Ukraine will not become a NATO member.” He continues to stand by this assessment, says Grüter. However, he rejects the accusation that he is teasing the Kremlin boss. “I’m not a Putin understander. For me, this is a personal assessment of the situation and a suggestion as to how it might be possible to de-escalate the conflict.”

Quiet diplomacy instead of loud outrage

While it is currently unclear how things will continue in eastern Ukraine, there is certainty in Berne that the candidacy for the UN Security Council will hardly fail in parliament. The defense department, which is to advise the Swiss delegation in New York with military expertise, has reportedly already approved the relevant bodies.

Collective security remains one of the most important foreign policy maxims for Switzerland – also in the Ukraine conflict. The Federal Council’s communiqué on Wednesday expressly emphasizes the role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The state government supports their efforts to promote peaceful conflict resolution.

As part of the OSCE, Switzerland is also committed to ensuring that the civilian and unarmed Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) can continue to exercise its mandate on the territory of Ukraine, according to the report: “Especially in a crisis situation, it is important that the SMM as the civilian and unarmed mission can continue its work, as it ensures objective reporting on the security situation on the ground.”

The three Swiss SMM observers remain in action. Switzerland is thus assuming responsibility in a sensitive area. Instead of the narratives of the conflicting parties, the OSCE mission delivers facts. Obviously, Switzerland wants to make its active contribution behind the scenes, instead of joining the chorus of outrage on the stage of the conflict.

Image Credit: Getty

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