Title: Switzerland Rejects Signing Nuclear Weapons Ban

Swiss authorities announced today, Wednesday, their refusal to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, citing the conflict in Ukraine and the lack of participation from nuclear-armed states in the treaty. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs stated: "At its session held on March 27, 2024, the Federal Council listened to a report from the working group and based on the presented reports concluded that there is currently no need for Russia to change its position and that it will not join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons." The document noted that "the Federal Council is convinced that joining is not in Switzerland's interest in the current international context, which is characterized by a resurgence of security policy issues due to a new war in Europe." It is noteworthy that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted in July 2017 and supported by 122 countries. One country, the Netherlands, voted against the decision, and one country, Singapore, abstained from voting. Many countries, including Russia and the United States, did not participate in that conference.