Switzerland orders relatives of Kyiv embassy staff to return home
Ukrainian civilians are being trained to use weapons as fears of a Russian invasion escalate.
Keystone / Alexander Chekmenyov
The Swiss embassy in Kyiv will remain open despite threats of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but relatives of embassy staff have been told to return home.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Español
es
Suiza ordena el retorno de familiares del personal de su embajada en Kiev
The latest Ukraine travel advice, issued on MondayExternal link, also advises against tourist and non-urgent trips due to current tensions with Russia.
A host of other countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and Italy, have recommended that their nationals leave Ukraine. But Switzerland has stopped short of giving this advice to the 257 Swiss currently residing in the country. Individuals must decide for themselves whether to stay in Ukraine.
The Swiss embassy in Kyiv will remain open as a point of contact for Swiss citizens. A number of non-essential embassy staff have already opted to return home.
Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine have increased in recent days. This follows the massing of 100,000 Russian troops on the border and naval exercises in the Black Sea.
“Switzerland is watching the increasing tensions on the Ukrainian border and danger of a military escalation with great concern,” the Swiss foreign ministry said on Monday.
The statement added that Switzerland continues to campaign for a peaceful resolution and repeated calls for theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to play an active role in ensuring security in the region.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
What Trump’s return or a new Harris administration would mean for Switzerland
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
This content was published on
Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife, Eva Pavlova, arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday at the start of a two-day state visit.
Study shows proliferation of non-native plants is driver of insect invasions
This content was published on
A global study has revealed that insect invasions are being driven by the proliferation of non-native plants. This can can massively disrupt ecological processes, often leading to serious economic impacts.
Swiss set record for world’s longest hyperloop test
This content was published on
Swiss scientists have established a record for the longest-ever hyperloop journey at a facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Swiss army wants to purchase new German armoured howitzers to replace its existing artillery system which has been in operation for over 50 years.
Poll suggests Donald Trump has many fans in Switzerland
This content was published on
Around a quarter of Swiss citizens would vote for Donald Trump if they had the chance, according to a recent poll. This percentage is higher than in many other European countries.
Swiss court rejects special assistance for student with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court has rejected an application for special assistance from a student with disabilities at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Police arrest 15 drug dealers in Verbier in southern Switzerland
This content was published on
Swiss and French police have arrested 15 suspected drug dealers operating in the mountain resort of Verbier in southern Switzerland.
New European space tech centre in Switzerland launches its first project
This content was published on
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), launched in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), is to be located in the immediate vicinity of the PSI in northern Switzerland.
Swiss Federal Railways launches campaign for safety on public transport
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways is launching a campaign for greater respect and safety on public transport, with posters to go up in stations and on trains starting next week.
This content was published on
Hopes for a peaceful Ukraine outcome are still alive despite no obvious signs of a breakthrough between the US and Russia in Geneva talks.
‘Putin has forced this crisis diplomacy upon the West’
This content was published on
The US-Russia talks in Geneva are a win for Vladimir Putin, who has imposed his agenda on the West, analyses Gwendolyn Sasse.
‘The Ukraine conflict is likely to last a long time’
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is in Ukraine this week. Former ambassador Toni Frisch has some thoughts on what should be on his agenda.
Swiss recognition of former Soviet republics took 15 minutes
This content was published on
Documents from 1991 show that Switzerland swiftly recognised the new countries emerging out of the former Soviet Union. Now it's more complicated.
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.