Switzerland is considering the deployment of 200 peacekeeping soldiers to Ukraine in the event of a truce, according to the head of the Swiss Armed Forces, Thomas Suessli. In an interview with the Blick newspaper, Suessli emphasized the importance of differentiating between peacekeeping and peace-enforcement commitments.
“Peace-enforcement means peace must be imposed by force of arms. Switzerland does not participate in that case,” he stated, highlighting the country’s neutrality. He articulated that peacekeeping would only be viable if both Russia and Ukraine agree to cease hostilities and invite the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to help ensure a stable environment.
Suessli elaborated on the logistical aspects of such a mission, indicating that if Switzerland were instructed to participate, they would first develop a training program tailored for militia members. This preparatory phase would lead to the recruitment and training of personnel for potential engagement. He mentioned that Switzerland “could probably provide around 200 soldiers in nine to twelve months.”
He clarified that the rules of engagement for peacekeeping missions involve the use of arms strictly for self-defense, citing the deployment of Swiss soldiers in Kosovo as a relevant example of their involvement in a NATO-led mission.
Though the concept of deploying troops to assist in Ukraine is on the table, Suessli noted that the feasibility and requirements depend on the needs articulated by the UN and the decisions made by the Swiss parliament. “These are hypothetical questions,” he remarked, pointing out that currently, there is no peace established, nor have any requests been made from the UN regarding such a mission.
