Swiss parliament votes against re-export of Swiss arms to Ukraine

The National Council, the lower house of the Swiss parliament, has voted against an amendment that would allow the re-export of Swiss-made weaponry to third countries, such as Ukraine, the news agency Swissinfo reported[1] on June 2. The discussion about the transfer still continues and there are several more proposals pending in the parliament. Members of the Council of States, the parliament's upper house, recommended[2] easing the restrictions on arms re-exports on May 12.

The move would have opened new possibilities for the re-export of Swiss arms to Ukraine's military. Following Switzerland's long-term neutrality policy, the country's law does not currently allow the delivery of Swiss weapons to combat zones, even when supplied by an intermediary country. Earlier on June 2, the Dutch government announced[3] plans to buy several dozens of Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine, potentially from Switzerland.

The latest decision by Bern could present an obstacle to Amsterdam's plan.

German defense minister: NATO countries to send total of 160 tanks to Ukraine NATO countries plan to send two battalions of German Leopard-2 battle tanks and four battalions of Leopard-1 tanks to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Die Welt. kThe 160 tanks account for roughly half the 300 tanks requested by Ukraine for its counteroffensive.

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press.

He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

References

1. ^ reported (www.swissinfo.ch)
2. ^ recommended (www.pravda.com.ua)
3. ^ announced (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ German defense minister: NATO countries to send total of 160 tanks to UkraineNATO countries plan to send two battalions of German Leopard-2 battle tanks and four battalions of Leopard-1 tanks to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Die Welt. kThe 160 tanks account for roughly half the 300 tanks requested by Ukraine for its counteroffensive. (kyivindependent.com)