BERN — The Swiss Federal Council moved to adopt additional elements of the European Union’s 18th sanctions package against Russia and Belarus, signaling a further tightening of its sanctions regime in alignment with Brussels’ latest measures.
Under the new restrictions, effective October 30, Switzerland will expand export controls on materials that “might strengthen Russian industry or contribute to its military and technological enhancement,” including added curbs on certain metals, plastics and chemical components used in propellant production. The Federal Council also transformed Switzerland’s previous partial ban on financial messaging services with 23 Russian banks into a full transaction ban, and added 22 more Russian banks to that list.
Furthermore, Bern will prohibit the import of refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude oil through third-country intermediaries, with only select exemptions for Canada, Norway, the UK and the U.S. Measures aimed at the energy sector include a transaction ban on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipeline systems, blocking their completion, maintenance or future operations within Swiss jurisdiction. The Federal Council also extended its ban on investments connected to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), now prohibiting all transactions with the entity and its subsidiaries.
In a statement, Switzerland’s government framed the move as necessary to ensure that its neutrality does not become a loophole for sanctions circumvention, and emphasized that the decision was limited to adopting specific EU measures within the constraints of Swiss law. The timing is noteworthy: Switzerland had earlier moved in August to adopt several 18th-package components—such as listing additional individuals and entities and rolling out stricter export controls—but current action deepens and broadens the previous steps.
