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Switzerland's parliamentary committee voted to allocate 5 billion Swiss francs, i.e. 5,5 billion US dollars, to Ukraine as part of a package aimed at strengthening the defense capabilities of neutral Switzerland. This is reported by Reuters.
It is noted that the security committee of the upper house of the parliament approved the package, which provides for the allocation of 10,1 billion francs of additional funds for the country's army, taking into account the amount for Ukraine.
The publication emphasized that this plan has to pass some more parliamentary hurdles before it comes into force. In total, it was adopted by 8 votes to 5, while right-wing parties opposed the agreement.
Also, in the statement of the parliament, it is said that the multibillion-dollar package was laid as an extraordinary contribution to the security of Switzerland and "peace in Europe" because of the war that the Russian Federation started against Ukraine.
"Western allies are demanding that Switzerland do more to help Ukraine, despite the fact that right-wing nationalists in parliament insist that the country remain strictly neutral," the message reads.
At the same time, the parliament said that the Ukrainian part of the package aims to support the reconstruction and repair of civil infrastructure, which is necessary for life and survival in Ukraine.
How Switzerland supports Ukraine during the war
As I wrote earlier, Switzerland approved financing for Ukraine for 12 years. These funds will be used to restore Ukraine, namely roads, destroyed infrastructure in energy and health care.
Switzerland also advocated financing Ukraine at the expense of frozen Russian assets. It is known that more than 8 billion dollars of reserves and assets of the Russian central bank are stored in the country.
"The facts are really very obvious. Russia has seriously violated international law. Therefore, she must compensate for the damage caused. There are international discussions on compensation mechanisms, and Switzerland is participating with its knowledge, its skills and its entire history in this area," said the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis.
