Switzerland breaks neutral status to sanction Russia over Ukraine invasion

• Switzerland’s federal council said Monday it was adopting the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

• The package includes freezing Putin’s personal assets, effective immediately.

• Switzerland also said it was closing its airspace to Russian aircraft and bar people close to Putin from entering.

Switzerland broke its historically neutral status to sanction Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement Monday, Switzerland’s federal council said it would adopt sanctions against Russia effective immediately. The measures, it said, would match those of the European Union, of which Switzerland is not a member.

The sanctions package targets various Russian companies and individuals, and involves freezing the personal assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The federal council said it would also close its airspace to all flights from Russia and “all movements of aircraft with Russian markings,” bar people close to Putin from entering Switzerland, and send relief supplies to Poland to help with settling Ukrainian refugees.

“Switzerland reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine and its people,” the statement said.

The US, UK, and EU imposed sanctions against Russian companies and individuals after Putin ordered troops into Ukraine last week.

Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on high alert on Sunday, saying they were in response to “illegitimate Western sanctions.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II — has prompted many historically neutral countries in the West to impose sanctions or send weapons.

Sweden said on Sunday that it was sending military aid, including anti-tank weapons, to Ukraine, breaking its decades-long tradition of not sending weapons to countries in armed conflict. The last time Sweden did so was in 1939, when the Soviet Union invaded Finland, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters.

Also on Sunday, the EU announced plans to purchase and deliver weapons to Ukraine, marking the first time the bloc has ever bought and sent weapons to a country under attack.

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