The Swiss government rejected a request from Ruag AG for the export of Leopard 1 tanks destined for Ukraine.

This is stated on the website of the Federal Council of Switzerland.

On 28 June, the Federal Council rejected a request from Ruag AG to export 96 Leopard 1 A5 tanks as it is inconsistent with applicable law.

The tanks are currently in storage in Italy and are in a state of disrepair.

The tanks were planned to be transported to Germany for refurbishment and then transferred to Ukraine as military aid.

“The Federal Council has concluded that the sale of the 96 tanks is not possible under the law as it stands. In particular, such a sale would contravene the War Materiel Act and would result in a shift from Switzerland’s policy of neutrality,” the statement said.

Seven years ago, RUAG purchased these vehicles from the Italian military for further resale.

At the beginning of the year, RUAG already approached the federal authorities with the issue of the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Germany, albeit verbally.

Despite such an adamant position of the parliament, on June 7, the Swiss Senate approved an amendment to the law that would allow this neutral country to re-export weapons.

In late June, the National Council (lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland) approved the sale of 25 of 96 decommissioned Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Germany, despite export restrictions.

The issue of arms re-exports has sparked wide debate in Switzerland, which has had to balance its foreign policy tradition of neutrality.

On June 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a speech in the Swiss parliament, called for the re-export of weapons to Ukraine, saying that this step would be vital in the fight against the Russian invasion.