On Wednesday, Switzerland once again declined to transfer arms to Ukraine, this time rejecting the export of approximately 100 Leopard 1 tanks owned by the state arms company RUAG.

Despite pressure from Kyiv and its allies, Switzerland has consistently prevented countries possessing Swiss-manufactured weaponry from re-exporting it to Ukraine.

The Federal Council of Switzerland stated that the export of 96 Leopard 1 A5 tanks was “currently not feasible under existing legislation.”

The council emphasized that such a sale would violate the War Materiel Act and deviate from Switzerland’s policy of neutrality, the AFP reported.

According to the War Materiel Act, all re-exports are prohibited if the recipient country is involved in an international armed conflict.

The Federal Council, prioritizing Switzerland’s obligations as a neutral nation and the steadfast application of the rule of law, made this decision.

Switzerland, a landlocked country with a population of 8.8 million people, has long maintained a position of well-armed military neutrality.

Written by staff