“This is a big step for Switzerland,” a traditionally neutral country, the leader told reporters, adding that the Federal Council made this decision “with conviction, thoughtfully and unequivocally.”
Ueli Maurer, the Finance Minister stressed that blocking the assets of people who are on the EU blacklist has an “immediate effect”.
Swiss authorities — who seemed hesitant to apply sanctions after the invasion — had been under heavy pressure for days to align with the EU and the United States.
For her part, the Minister of Justice, Karin Keller-Sutter, indicated that in addition five Russian or Ukrainian tycoons “very close to Vladimir Putin” and with very important ties in Switzerland “are prohibited from entering Switzerland.”
These people – whose identity was not released – do not have a residence permit in Switzerland but have important “economic ties, especially in finance and in the business of raw materials,” he added.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said he was “very happy” because without the Swiss, the sanctions would have been “less effective”.
Switzerland also closed its airspace from Monday to all flights from Russia, including private planes, but “with the exception of flights for humanitarian, medical or diplomatic purposes,” a statement said.
However, the Federal Council states that “Switzerland will continue to examine each new package of sanctions imposed by the EU individually”.