Swiss troops ready for peaceful mission to Ukraine if ceasefire holds
Switzerland is contemplating the deployment of 200 soldiers to Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is achieved, disclosed Thomas Süssli, the head of the Swiss army.
In an interview with the newspaper "Blick," Süssli stressed that the mission would have a peaceful nature and not involve peace enforcement.
Peace mission and Switzerland's neutrality
Süssli clarified that Switzerland will not participate in peace-enforcing operations, which require the use of armed force. "Peacekeeping" suggests that both parties involved in the conflict must consent to a ceasefire and the presence of UN peacekeeping forces. Currently, there is neither peace nor a formal request from the UN to deploy troops.
Switzerland, despite its neutrality, supports Ukraine economically and through humanitarian aid, but does not supply weapons to conflicted 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, underscore the necessity for security assurances for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. Dispatching allied troops as part of a peacekeeping mission is one of the measures being considered for these assurances.
Switzerland, like other countries, is evaluating the possibility of participating in such a mission. Still, decisions will rely on how the situation in Ukraine unfolds and formal requests from the UN. The subject remains hypothetical, but the readiness to act serves as a clear signal of support for Ukraine.
