Swiss neutrality is often misunderstood. An analysis shows how Switzerland’s response to the war against Ukraine divides the Swiss and puzzles outsiders. Laws reveal much about how a nation sees itself. So too can the laws that do not get passed. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and the US imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian organisations and individuals, and Switzerland followed suit. Less widely known is that Switzerland also imposed restrictions on Ukraine, treating it as a party to the conflict. Under Swiss neutrality law, no side in a war can receive military support, irrespective of who the aggressor is. The Swiss government invoked emergency powers to block exports to Ukraine of goods that could have a military use. Because these powers expired after four years, a formal law would now be required. This means Switzerland would have had to enact a law imposing formal sanctions against Ukraine. After much back and forth, the …