Switzerland aligns with EU sanctions, bans business with Russian ports and airports

Switzerland has officially joined the European Union’s 16th package of sanctions against Russia, imposing a ban on its companies from conducting business with six Russian airports and five key seaports. 

The move, announced by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), reflects Bern’s continued alignment with Brussels over Russia-related restrictions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

According to the SECO statement, the Federal Council has prohibited Swiss companies from engaging in commercial activities with specific Russian harbors, locks, and airports that are “allegedly used for the transport of drones, missiles and goods to support” Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.

The restrictions target prominent Moscow airports Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, as well as regional facilities in Perm and Pskov. The list of sanctioned ports includes Astrakhan, Makhachkala, Novorossiysk, Primorsk, and Ust-Luga—transport hubs that EU authorities have previously accused of being involved in circumventing export controls and facilitating arms transfers.

The EU introduced the ban on February 24 as part of its broader efforts to limit Russia's access to logistics infrastructure believed to play a role in the conflict. Switzerland’s latest action reaffirms its commitment to mirroring EU policy, even as it maintains its official stance of neutrality.

Despite its consistent adoption of anti-Russian measures, Swiss authorities have repeatedly insisted that their neutrality remains intact. Bern has emphasized that it is not initiating sanctions independently but is rather aligning with the EU framework in response to the geopolitical crisis.

The sanctions are part of ongoing Western efforts to apply economic pressure on Moscow and disrupt its supply chains linked to military operations in Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva