Switzerland has joined the new EU anti-Russian sanctions

GENEVA, Dec. 16 - RIA Novosti. Switzerland joins the latest EU sanctions against Russia concerning the ban on the transportation of trade and brokerage goods sold in excess of the ceiling price, according to a statement published on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.

"The EU has extended bans on trade and brokerage activities concerning the transportation of these goods sold in excess of the ceiling price. On December 16, 2022, the Federal Council decided to fully adopt these changes," the document said.

The office specifies that the measures will take effect on December 16, 2022 at 6 p.m. (8 p.m. Moscow time).

Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Switzerland Sergey Garmonin stated that there is no point in hoping for improvement of relations between Russia and Switzerland.

Ivan Nechayev, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department, said Switzerland had lost its neutral status. Russia's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, also said that Switzerland's position on Ukraine had negatively affected Bern's international role. The diplomat pointed out that since the beginning of Russia's special operation in Ukraine, Switzerland had actually abandoned its status as a neutral country in order to side with Kiev and its NATO sponsors. According to Gatilov, Swiss President Iñazio Cassis, by going to Kiev, demonstrated his support for the Kiev regime. At the same time, the ambassador expressed hope that Switzerland would change its position, calling the country's refusal to export ammunition that would eventually end up in Ukraine a "positive sign.