Switzerland adheres to the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia but introduces exceptions

Published at: 22/05/2026 12:52 PM

The Federal Council of Switzerland announced this Friday its formal adherence to the economic measures and financial restrictions of the twentieth package of sanctions of the European Union against the Russian Federation and Belarus. The measure, which takes effect at 23:00 local time, seeks to intensify pressure on the Kremlin in full coordination with the Swiss country's Western partners.

The decision involves the immediate freezing of assets and the prohibition of entry into Swiss territory for 115 new individuals and entities with a strategic profile. The objectives of this round of sanctions directly target the Russian military-industrial complex, as well as companies from third countries accused of supplying key technology and evading previous trade blockades.

The energy and financial sector is also at the core of the new bans, with severe restrictions aimed at Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure and the operators of the so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. In addition, any transaction with cryptoasset service providers that have a base of operations in the Russian Federation is strictly prohibited.

Despite the majority alignment with Brussels, the Swiss government has introduced notable temporary exceptions and legal safeguards in the application of certain trade clauses. The executive reiterated that these exemptions seek to protect the domestic legal framework and the interests of Swiss subsidiaries abroad, maintaining the complex balance between the country's diplomatic neutrality and its international responsibility.

Mazo News Team