Switzerland to release another CHF1.5 billion for Ukraine
Journalists listen as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the Third Ministerial Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine being held at World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.
Keystone / Shawn Thew
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has emphasised Switzerland’s commitment to long-term support for Ukraine. The government said it intends to provide at least another CHF1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) by 2028.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Español
es
Suiza destinará otros 1 500 millones de francos a Ucrania
The support is to be provided as part of the international cooperation strategy for 2025 to 2028, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Together with the CHF300 million earmarked for 2023 and 2024, Switzerland would support Ukraine with at least CHF1.8 billion over the next six years, it said.
Swiss cantons have also donated five ambulances to Ukraine, it was announced on Thursday. Three fire engines and fire fighting equipment will also be delivered in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the spring meeting of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC, Cassis also emphasised the importance of the Lugano Declaration, the result of the first conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, held in the Swiss city of Lugano in July 2022.
According to Cassis, the declaration contains important guiding principles for reforms and transparency which are necessary for sustainable reconstruction.
More
More
Swiss conference sets principles for Ukraine reconstruction
This content was published on
An international conference to support Ukraine has agreed to a series of principles to oversee the reconstruction of the war-torn country.
Before the conference Cassis met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He also wants to use his stay in Washington to establish contacts with high-ranking representatives of the WBG and the countries that belong to Switzerland’s constituency in the so-called Bretton Woods institutions (WBG and IMF).
America strategy
Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter and Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan will also take part in the IMF conference on Friday. The two will present “Switzerland’s most recent measures to safeguard financial stability” at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, according to the foreign ministry.
The conference comes almost a month after Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second-largest bank, imploded, requiring a government-ordered merger with rival UBS.
More
More
Swiss regulator calls for more power after Credit Suisse turmoil
This content was published on
FINMA wants more power to sanction and name and shame banks that break the rules, following the Credit Suisse collapse.
The foreign ministry also emphasised that since February 2022 the government has been pursuing an America strategy with which “Switzerland is striving for a coherent approach towards the American continent and to strengthen the coherence of Swiss foreign policy”.
As part of the implementation of this strategy, Cassis will travel to Chicago on Friday to take stock of the re-opening of the consulate general there. The re-opening corresponded to a request from parliament, which had called for more support for Swiss companies in the greater Chicago area.
More
More
Switzerland re-opens consulate in Chicago
This content was published on
Switzerland’s foreign minister inaugurated a new consulate general in Chicago.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Zurich arbitration authority rules in favour of tenants of ‘Sugus Houses’
This content was published on
A conciliation authority says the terminations of 105 flat leases in the so-called "Sugus Houses" in the centre of Zurich were abusive. The tenants therefore do not have to move out - at least for the time being.
This content was published on
Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.
This content was published on
Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.
This content was published on
A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden, last week. This was the first bear attack on local livestock in four years.
This content was published on
Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than the forecasts made three months ago. They have also lowered their predictions for the current year.
This content was published on
Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.
Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat
This content was published on
Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama
This content was published on
To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Murten on 22 June 1476, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has launched a website that offers the public an immersive experience of the huge panorama painting of the historic battle.
77th Swiss Gymnastics Festival praised for ‘positive energy’
This content was published on
The 77th Federal Gymnastics Festival drew to a close on Sunday in Lausanne, after eleven days of popular celebration and sporting performances.
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.
Read more
More
Switzerland and the US plan annual talks
This content was published on
This declaration of intent represents a “significant milestone” with one of Switzerland’s main partners in many areas, according to Swiss State Secretary Livia Leu. She met on Friday with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman. “We value our Swiss partners and will continue to work together closely to advance shared interests bilaterally and on…
How the war in Ukraine fuels underfunding for other crises
This content was published on
UN refugee agency UNHCR says it is facing an unprecedented funding gap this year. The situation is similar for other aid agencies.
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.