In Europe, Germany is considered to be a brake on arms deliveries, but Switzerland is now apparently going one better: Berne even forbids Berlin to deliver ammunition to Ukraine – and gives a reason.
Germany is not allowed in the Switzerland purchased ammunition to the Ukraine deliver. The Swiss Ministry of Economic Affairs rejected corresponding inquiries from Germany, as confirmed on Sunday. According to the Keystone-SDA news agency, the ministry cited Switzerland’s neutrality as justification.
Such a delivery is legally impossible, the ministry was quoted as saying. Exports to countries involved in intense and prolonged internal or international hostilities are strictly prohibited.
Switzerland sees no connection with German tank deliveries
The Swiss “Sonntagszeitung” had reported on the rejection of the German request for the ammunition. For this attitude, Switzerland is held jointly responsible by Germany for the fact that no German Marder armored personnel carriers can be delivered to Ukraine for the fight against the Russian invading troops, the report said. According to the newspaper, their warheads are equipped with ammunition that comes from Switzerland.
However, according to Keystone-SDA, the Swiss Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the inquiries received from Germany did not indicate whether the ammunition requested was actually related to the discussed delivery of Marder armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. “We do not have this information,” the ministry said.