War in Ukraine is being felt in Switzerland on various levels

Dear reader,

What is the appropriate response to the awful images emerging from the war in Ukraine? Switzerland, which is feeling the effects of the conflict on various levels, is searching for answers.

The country is the guardian of the Geneva Conventions. These fundamental international treaties, designed to protect victims of war, also underpin the work of the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). And after the atrocities in Bucha, this fact has been widely mentioned – often as grounds to demand more robust Swiss measures against Russia. But for small Switzerland, tightly enmeshed within global financial and supply chains, a radical break with Russia is complicated.

It’s not just Switzerland which has this problem. In Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international bodies have also been weighing up the pros and cons of excluding Russia. Our correspondent Akiko Uehara writes about the various approaches taken in “International Geneva” to dealing with “powerful player” Russia.

Russia is also a powerful player in the Swiss economy. For decades its oligarchs have enjoyed beneficial laws and tax regimes in Switzerland, and have grown to appreciate the discreet charms of Swiss bankers and lawyers, as our finance specialist Matthew Allen reports.

Beyond banks, the importance of the Russian and Ukrainian steel industries in Switzerland is a less well-known fact. Lugano, in the south of the country, has become the centre of the international steel trade industry, writes investigative journalist Federicho Franchini. Now traders from both sides are feeling the effects of the war – albeit for different reasons.

Another phenomenon – an even more under-the-radar one – has also come to the surface: how Ukraine and Russia have become testing grounds for new medicines developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical industry. Multinationals expert Jessica Davis Plüss explains how pharma companies are directly impacted by the war and what the possible consequences for patients might be.

Ukrainian refugees also continue to raise challenges, including in Switzerland, where almost 25,000 had applied for protection by early this week. SWI journalist Kaoru Uda writes about the huge levels of solidarity shown by the Swiss population.

The Swiss Refugee Council meanwhile has a history of welcoming people fleeing crises, and with open arms, writes Julia Crawford. However, what’s different this time around is the stance of the official Swiss authorities – which is more generous.

But does generosity on one front mean less attention on another? In the latest “Inside Geneva” podcast, Imogen Foulkes and guests talk about how while there is a huge outpouring of solidarity for Ukraine, in other places – Yemen, Afghanistan, and elsewhere – resources are sorely needed.

The podcast is available on all major apps and platforms: AppleExternal link, SpotifyExternal link, and Podcast AddictExternal link.