Switzerland may send troops to Ukraine peace mission
Switzerland is considering sending 200 soldiers to Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is reached, revealed Thomas Suessli, the head of the Swiss army.
In an interview with the newspaper "Blick," Suessli emphasized that the mission would be peaceful in nature and not a peace-enforcing one.
Peace mission and Switzerland's neutrality
Suessli explained that Switzerland will not participate in peace-enforcing operations that require the use of armed force. "Peacekeeping" presumes that both sides of the conflict agree to a ceasefire and the presence of UN peacekeeping forces. Currently, however, there is neither peace nor a formal request from the UN to send troops.
Despite its neutrality, Switzerland supports Ukraine economically and through humanitarian aid, but does not supply weapons to conflict regions. The deployment of soldiers would aim to maintain the ceasefire, not enforce it.
International support for Ukraine
Kyiv and its European allies, including France and the United Kingdom, emphasize the need for security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. Sending allied troops as part of a peacekeeping mission is one option for these guarantees.
Like other countries, Switzerland is analyzing the possibility of participating in such a mission, but the decisions will depend on the evolving situation in Ukraine and formal requests from the UN. Currently, the topic remains hypothetical, but the readiness to act is a clear signal of support for Ukraine.
