Impartiality

Newish, as far as GN goes.
GN started about 11 years ago.

Callistemon21

volver

You'll be happy then *Callistemon".

How we feeling about the Spanish? And the Swedes?

You're quite a new poster, I think volver.

Sometimes having a knowledge of history is helpful

No, she isn’t Callistemon ?

Switzerland said it has broken with tradition to join the EU to impose sanctions on Russia.

Chestnut

I think suggesting a poster may be new sounds as though there's a clique and they're not part of it. Seems rather unwelcoming. If they're new just let them jump in and make them welcome.

No, what I meant was the poster may be unaware of some of the history of Gransnet, not history in general.

Apologies, volver if you thought I meant you knew nothing about world history.

Ukraine
Australia
Syria
Yemen
Afghanistan
The Uyghurs
Ethiopia
Not to mention Covid

Yet so much quibbling about Switzerland!

Chestnut

I think suggesting a poster may be new sounds as though there's a clique and they're not part of it. Seems rather unwelcoming. If they're new just let them jump in and make them welcome.

Yes. I was referred to as ‘she’s a new’ish poster yesterday’. Wanted to ask ‘who’s she, the cat’s mother?’ Seemed a strange comment.

I think a country’s government can be neutral about another’s war-mongering, not joining in or supporting either side, but individuals still hold a partisan view on the subject.

The reason I started the thread was because I was surprised by a post a friend in Switzerland made on social media. She's someone I have a lot of respect for and it surprised me. Made me ponder.

I think suggesting a poster may be new sounds as though there's a clique and they're not part of it. Seems rather unwelcoming. If they're new just let them jump in and make them welcome.

Callistemon21
You're quite a new poster, I think volver.

Really?

paddyann54

I think that by not supporting sanctions they are supporting Putin ..so not neutral at all .I dont believe they were neutral dring WW11 either just easily bought

I agree Paddyann

Oh yes, this newbie knows how the Spanish and Swedish states behaved in WW2.

She also knows that Switzerland helped people escape from the Nazis. I've seen the Sound of Music you know.

Just puzzled why so many are picking on Switzerland when they've already sanctioned Russia more strongly than the UK have. Just wondering why that is. ?

Spanish people aided those escaping from Nazi occupied France but the government was largely pro-Nazi.
Sweden remained largely neutral but aided both the Allies and the Nazis.

I don't think they hoarded Nazi gold and treasures though, did they?
All history now of course.

Nor Putin was trying to send gold to those countries recently, only to Switzerland.

I might be new but I'm not newborn.

Just wondering why nobody is saying that Spain or Sweden are redeeming themselves, when they were neutral in WW2, only Switzerland need to redeem themselves.

volver

You'll be happy then *Callistemon".

How we feeling about the Spanish? And the Swedes?

You're quite a new poster, I think volver.

Sometimes having a knowledge of history is helpful

STOCKHOLM, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Sweden will send military aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, helmets and body armour, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Sunday.

"Sweden is now proposing direct support for Ukraine's armed forces. It includes 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 body shields and 5,000 anti-tank weapons" Andersson told a news conference.

Spain has just taken an important step to support Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. Prime minister Pedro Sánchez has announced this Wednesday morning, 2 March, that the government will send “offensive military material” directly to the country, separately from the assistance sent by the European Union.

MADRID, March 2 (Reuters) - Spain will send a shipment of offensive weapons and ammunition including grenade launchers and machine guns to Ukraine on Friday to help it repel the Russian invasion, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said late on Wednesday.

"In this first shipment that will go aboard two planes, we expect to send 1,370 anti-tank grenade launchers, 700,000 rifle and machine-gun rounds, and light machine guns," Robles said in an interview with Antena3 television.

She said two air force planes would fly the material to a location in Poland close to the border, where Ukrainian officials would pick it up.

"It is very important because (the equipment) allows for a very individualized defense that can be used even by people who do not have much experience using weapons," she added.

You'll be happy then *Callistemon".

How we feeling about the Spanish? And the Swedes?

Chewbacca

^I think that by not supporting sanctions they are supporting Putin ..so not neutral at all. I don't^ believe they were neutral during WW11 either just easily bought.

I agree with this 100%.

There comes a time when fence-sitting is immoral and inconscionable.

That time was in WW2 and Switzerland did not respond.
Now is their chance to redeem themselves.

If there was a Russian product on sale, that one and all similar ones should all indicate clearly from what counties they came from, in order to make it easier for the consumer to make a choice.

Has anybody bothered to read Coastpath’s post near the beginning of the thread?

....we all know that Switzerland are imposing the same sanctions as the EU, don't we...?

How can anyone be impartial about evil?

I think that by not supporting sanctions they are supporting Putin ..so not neutral at all. I don't believe they were neutral during WW11 either just easily bought.

I agree with this 100%.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a clear cut evil. Wrong is wrong. Switzerland should support Ukraine.