Swiss Federal Council rejects request to sell Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine

The Swiss Federal Council has rejected Ruag AG's request to sell 96 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine. 

This is stated on the government's website. 

These tanks are out of service in Italy. They were to be modernised in Germany and subsequently transferred to Ukraine.

The decision to refuse Switzerland's request was justified by the fact that it contradicts the current legislation on neutrality and would undermine the constitutionality of the state.

It will be recalled that the Upper House of the Swiss Parliament supported amendments to the law on arms re-export. These amendments stipulate that those who own Swiss weapons older than five years can re-export them under the following conditions:

1. The end user does not commit grave human rights violations. 

2. There is no risk that the weapon will be used against civilians.

3. The end user is not involved in an armed conflict. The only exceptions are those countries that are forced to resort to self-defence. This requires the UN General Assembly to condemn the war as a war of aggression.