Switzerland rejects Denmark's request to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine

Citing the agency's confirmation, Swiss national television SRF reported that the State Secretariat for Economic Relations (SECO) rejected Denmark's request to send about twenty military vehicles “Pirranha III” to Ukraine.

SECO did not respond immediately to Reuters news agency's request on the decision made.

As a neutral state, Switzerland requires that all foreign states buying Swiss production weapons ask permission for their re-export.

In April they established their veto of re-exporting Swiss-made ammunition used in antiaircraft tanks Germany is sending to Ukraine. They also rejected Poland's request to buy weapons to come to the aid of Ukraine's neighbours.

Unlike the past, Switzerland changed its stance and adopted European Union sanctions, determined to punish Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, an attack Moscow describes as a special military operation for disarming and “de-enassignation of Ukraine”.

But Swiss neutrality now faces its greatest test in decades, while an internal debate is under way on how to interpret policies that kept Switzerland out of both world wars during the 20th century.