Pistorius asks Switzerland to hand over Patriot to Ukraine

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to NZZ.

However, the talks clearly did not lead to any results. As a neutral state, Switzerland does not provide military materials to warring parties, not even to Ukraine.

Berlin tried several times to convince Bern to allow the transfer of ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank to Ukraine. However, the federal government failed to allow the re-export of this Swiss-made ammunition, for which Switzerland was sharply criticized.

It would be quite possible to organize a kind of circular trade with Western countries, similar to the trade in Leopard tanks. Last year, Switzerland agreed to sell 25 Leopard 2 battle tanks to a German manufacturer, provided that they were not sent to Ukraine. The tanks are intended to fill the gaps left by NATO and EU countries after they transferred tanks to Kyiv.

According to the publication, Switzerland has almost nothing to offer in the field of air defense, even for the exchange of rings. The ordered American Patriot systems will be delivered no earlier than 2026. However, Ukraine needs these weapons now.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 08/05/2024