Putin just made history in Switzerland

[BeyondGeography]

Link to tweet

GENEVA — Switzerland, a favorite destination for Russian oligarchs and their money, announced on Monday that it would freeze Russian financial assets in the country, setting aside a deeply rooted tradition of neutrality to join the European Union and a growing number of nations seeking to penalize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

After a meeting with the Swiss Federal Council, Switzerland’s president, Ignazio Cassis, said that the country would immediately freeze the assets of Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail V. Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov, as well as all 367 individuals sanctioned last week by the European Union.

Switzerland said it was departing from its usual policy of neutrality because of “the unprecedented military attack by Russia on a sovereign European state,” but expressed a willingness to help mediate in the conflict. It also joined European neighbors in closing its airspace to Russian aircraft, except for humanitarian or diplomatic purposes. But said it would evaluate whether to join in subsequent E.U. sanctions on a case-by-case basis.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/28/world/europe/switzerland-russian-assets-freeze.html

[BootinUp]

1. Wow. Congratulations to pooty

[Aristus]

2. "Think this will make them forget all of our Nazi gold, Hans?"

"We can only hope, Juergen..."

[llashram]

6. ++

[lagomorph777]

3. Make a deal with the Swiss: keep half, send half to Ukraine.

[BeckyDem]

4. Interesting development. +1

[C_U_L8R]

5. Hello, Cyprus?

[erronis]

25. Yes, Cyprus (Wilbur Ross). But then also some US-based tax havens (South Dakota, Delaware, ...)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/23/wilbur-ross-russian-deal-bank-of-cyprus-donald-trump-commerce-secretary

Wilbur Ross, the Trump administration’s new commerce secretary, presided over a deal with a Russian businessman with ties to Vladimir Putin while serving in his previous role as vice-chairman of the Bank of Cyprus.

The transaction raises questions about Ross’s tenure at the Cypriot bank and his ties to politically connected Russian oligarchs. It comes amid confirmation by the FBI that it is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow to influence the outcome of the presidential election.
Wilbur Ross arrives for a meeting with Trump at the White House in Washington DC on 23 February 2017.
White House accused of blocking information on bank's Trump-Russia links
Read more

In 2015, while he served as vice-chairman of the Bank of Cyprus, the bank’s Russia-based businesses were sold to a Russian banker and consultant, Artem Avetisyan, who had ties to both the Russian president and Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank. At the time, Sberbank was under US and EU sanctions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Avetisyan had earlier been selected by Putin to head a new business branch of the Russian president’s strategic initiative agency, which was tasked with improving business and government ties.

https://inequality.org/research/the-united-states-of-tax-havens/

[Wounded Bear]

7. Switzerland has been "sheltering" dirty money for decades, perhaps centuries...

A hopeful sign that maybe they're finally coming clean.

[Grokenstein]

20. Perhaps, but it's another chicken that can't be counted until it's hatched

If "will freeze" becomes "has frozen" without Putin having been given time to withdraw every last ruble, then maybe...

[HAB911]

8. Can they really be trusted?

[CanonRay]

9. The Swiss didn't even do this to the Nazis

[roamer65]

11. Correct. They didn't even do it to Hitler.

[rickford66]

12. It was very important to have a neutral country in Europe during WWII.

They sheltered downed airmen and escaped POW's, allowed undercover work between friends and enemies, etc. Keeping stolen gold and valuables is another story.

[getagrip_already]

10. didn't he just threaten switzerland and noway?

Said they better not join nato.

This is kid of an fu back at him methinks.

[COL Mustard]

16. Norway is already a NATO member

And has been since 1949. Maybe you mean Sweden?

[getagrip_already]

18. that could be it... n/t

[GB_RN]

17. Switzerland, No...

Sweden on the other hand…😉

Putin really doesn’t like the idea of Finland, which is right in his border, being in NATO. If Sweden, which has long maintained neutrality, joins, then between Sweden and Denmark, the two can totally block Russian/Putin’s access out to the North Sea from the Baltic Sea. He’d basically have no access to the Atlantic for a good chunk of the year, as long as the Turks keep the Bosporus blockaded and/or the Straights of Gibraltar are locked down. Russian shipping and naval power would be absolutely crippled.

[COL Mustard]

19. I'm sure Putin is not thrilled at the idea of Finland becoming a NATO member

And you now he's not happy that the Baltic states are members, which of course gives them coverage under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty (An attack on one is an attack on all). From what we've seen, the West may very well have overestimated Russian military strength. We did it during the Cold War when it was hard to have assets on the ground, and it seems like we may have done it again. Remember, the Russians have already lost the propaganda/information wars. They may take Kyiv and Kharkiv but the costs will be very high. As long as you have grannies with the balls to hand out sunflower seeds, it'll be a long, long occupation. And the Ukrainians win simply by not losing. Look at how many displays of support there are, just on this board, for them.

[erronis]

27. It also looks as if there are more assets on the ground in russia now. Putine had a purge of known

spies and other friends a few years ago. But I think his heavy-handed (Tito or Stalin reference) control as well as rampant corruption (read wealth disparity!!!) has probably disaffected many who might have gone along to get along.

We've seen many instances of Russian soldiers being lied to, sent into combat without the right equipment; and not performing - or deserting. When this happens in the intelligence areas (GRU and FSB) there are big problems for the dictator and cronies.

[GB_RN]

29. Yeah...

He doesn't want another NATO member right on his border, for the main reason that he's paranoid NATO will preemptively attack. The secondary reason being that with Finland not being in NATO, it would allow him freer access to invading. Of course, the last time Russia invaded Finland, they got their assess solidly kicked, so there's some history to prevent an invasion...or a reason to do it (revenge).

Sweden didn't make a lot of sense to me, until I looked at the map and realized what an Article 5 would mean if Sweden was a member: A blockade of the straight between Denmark and Sweden would totally ruin Putin's day. Trying to force a blockade there or at the Bosporus/Straights of Gibraltar to get out into the Atlantic during the Summer months would be...problematic, at best. Otherwise, his only course of action for getting ships around to the Atlantic would be to sail the limited number he's got from the Pacific, all the way around Africa or South America and then back up north. That's a LONG ass way to steam, and plenty of time to be harassed by subs, etc. Plus, it would leave his Pacific coast vulnerable, if he had to strip his Pacific fleet in order to defend the Atlantic.

From a strategic point of view, he'd be royally fucked. 😂

[Captain Zero]

21. Sweden and Finland were threatened

Norway is already in NATO.

[IronLionZion]

28. Sweden and Finland

both have decided to reconsider joining NATO and Sweden is sending weapons to Ukraine

[Hortensis]

13. Wow! Wonder how all those loyal oligarchs (the ones Putin allowed

to remain after purging those not in agreement with his course or who might otherwise pose a threat) are feeling about how this is going. They're very tough and ruthless and were expecting consequences, so I'm not imagining they're intimidated. But still... Putin needs the continued support of this wolf pack.

[jaxexpat]

14. Alas, pigs fly on this frigid day in hell.

It may yet freeze over.

[world wide wally]

15. Putin's thoughts at the moment

[liberal N proud]

22. That's a big deal to move the Swiss

[calimary]

26. No kidding!

They’ve always been on FULL neutral.

[infullview]

23. This will hurt worse than any sanction we could have put on them.

[housecat]

24. and we can't even imagine how much there is