Switzerland is one of the ten most important countries in supporting Ukraine, according to former Ukrainian ambassador to Switzerland Artem Rybchenko. However, he says new instruments against oligarch money are needed.
“Our goal is to ensure that Russian oligarchs with money in Switzerland who are involved in this war cannot simply use this money for their hobby or pass it on to their children,” Rybchenko said in an interviewExternal link with CH Media on Tuesday. “It is only appropriate if it is used for the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
As of November 25 Switzerland had frozen some CHF7.5 billion ($8 billion) of Russian funds.
But Switzerland’s support for Ukraine is already strong, he said, pointing to the agreed winter aid, the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in the Swiss city of Lugano in July, and support for demining the country and the construction of shelters.
Rybchenko was also full of praise for Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who held the rotating Swiss presidency in 2022. “Ignazio Cassis is a great friend of Ukraine,” he said. “Communication has always been very positive, open and transparent.”
Artem Rybchenko was the Ukrainian ambassador in Bern from 2018 until 2022. He is now returning to Kyiv as the new Ukrainian special envoy for reconstruction.
External Content
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Swiss reject biodiversity and pension reform proposals
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss air traffic control upgrade slows tempo for safety reasons
This content was published on
The upgrade of Switzerland’s air traffic control system will take longer than anticipated following a series of malfunctions.
Switzerland remains ‘world’s most innovative country’
This content was published on
Switzerland remains the world's most innovative country, still ahead of Sweden and the US on the WIPO Global Innovation Index.
Swiss conference to highlight decentralised and democratic Ukraine
This content was published on
The participants of the international conference in Switzerland on the reconstruction of Ukraine have reportedly agreed the principles of reforms.
Swiss note another slight rise in frozen Russian funds
This content was published on
Since the invasion of Ukraine in February and the start of sanctions, Switzerland has frozen some CHF7.5 billion ($7.9 billion) in Russian assets.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.