Bilateral relations Switzerland–Ukraine

Switzerland and Ukraine established diplomatic relations shortly after Ukraine's independence in December 1991, opening embassies in both countries. Relations are good and diverse and have become even closer since the outbreak of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Switzerland's wide-ranging policy on Ukraine is focused on two main priorities: support for the reform process and efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Switzerland and Ukraine hold regular discussions on the promotion of stability and prosperity in Ukraine through technical cooperation, peacebuilding, economic cooperation and humanitarian assistance. In addition to bilateral relations, the two countries also place a high priority on multilateral cooperation. For example, they work closely together in the Swiss-led voting group in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Treaty database

Ukraine Reform Conference 2022 in Switzerland

The annual Ukraine Reform Conference (URC) seeks to support the reform process in Ukraine, map progress and articulate recommendations for action. It will be held for the fifth time on 4–5 July 2022 in Lugano. In the lead-up to the Ministerial Conference in July 2022, a year-long preparatory process with various thematic events in Ukraine's partner countries will examine the reforms from different angles.

Ukraine Reform Conference 2022

Economic cooperation

Ukraine presents attractive trade and investment opportunities for Swiss companies.  Because of its economic potential, there is more scope to develop bilateral trade than in western European countries.

The balance of trade has traditionally been positive for Switzerland. Switzerland mainly exports pharmaceutical products, machinery, watches, precious stones and metals, jewellery, and agricultural products to Ukraine. Imports from Ukraine consist mainly of precious stones and metals, textiles/clothing, machinery, agricultural products and non-precious metals.

Several offices representing Ukrainian companies (head offices, trade agencies) are also based in Switzerland. Switzerland is one of the top five foreign investors in Ukraine. Two or three Swiss companies are traditionally among the five biggest taxpayers in Ukraine. The Switzerland–Ukraine joint economic commission held its 12th meeting in Bern in 2019.

The EFTA Free Trade Agreement, which came into force in June 2012, is of central importance for Switzerland's economic relations with Ukraine.

EFTA–Ukraine free trade agreement

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

The guiding principles of Switzerland's International Strategy on Education, Research and Innovation are the promotion of self-responsibility, excellence and creativity, and the ability to compete and innovate. Adopted by the Federal Council, the strategy creates a permanent basis for the promotion of bottom-up cross-border initiatives launched by Swiss ERI actors.

Switzerland's International Strategy on Education, Research and Innovation

Researchers can apply for funding for their projects through a range of research funding programmes established by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). One of the SNSF's goals is to promote stronger links between Swiss researchers and the international academic community. The SNSF provides a range of funding mechanisms to this end.

Researchers and artists who are citizens of Ukraine can apply to the State Secretariat for Education Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Peacebuilding and human security

Switzerland is working to help stabilise the political situation in Ukraine and to achieve a peaceful solution to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. To this end, it is supporting mediation efforts, primarily through the Minsk Process. Switzerland supports the implementation of the Minsk Agreements concluded under its chairpersonship in 2014 and has been working closely with the OSCE chairperson-in-office since then (Albania in 2020, Sweden in 2021 and Poland in 2021).

Swiss experts specialised in mediation, negotiating ceasefires and amnesties, and humanitarian aid are helping to work out and implement political solutions to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

The 2020–23 cooperation programme further strengthens Switzerland's engagement in Ukraine. Switzerland is committed to advancing decentralisation and sustainable economic growth in Ukraine. To this end, Switzerland prioritises: 

• Good governance and peacebuilding
• Health
• Energy efficiency and sustainable urban development
• Sustainable economic development

Switzerland's 2020–23 cooperation programme for Ukraine allocates around CHF 108 million to initiatives carried out jointly by the HSD, the SDC and SECO.

Since 2015, Swiss Humanitarian Aid has also been implementing its own projects – known as direct actions – in Ukraine, in order to meet the immediate needs of people on both sides of the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid, SDC

Economic cooperation and development, SECO

Swiss cooperation strategy for Ukraine 2020-2023 (PDF, Number of pages 48, 1.9 MB, English)

Cultural exchanges

Exchanges in the fields of music, film, theatre and literature have increased. The Swiss embassy in Kyiv supports various projects. The 'Journée internationale de la Francophonie' and the 'Settimana della Lingua Italiana' give Switzerland a distinct image, but its cultural profile is also highlighted at a number of other national festivals.

Swiss nationals in Ukraine

In 2020, there were 210 Swiss nationals living in Ukraine.

History of bilateral relations

Contacts between Switzerland and Ukraine date back to tsarist times. Back then, the area known today as Ukraine was a popular destination for Swiss emigrants, who founded the village of Zurichtal (present-day Solote Pole) on the Crimean Peninsula over 200 years ago. A few years later, winegrowers from the French-speaking part of Switzerland established a Swiss settlement in what is now the town of Shabo in the Odesa region. In the late 19th century, confectioners from Graubünden had some of the best-known patisseries and cafes in Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv.

Switzerland recognised Ukraine's independence on 23 December 1991. Almost immediately after, embassies were opened in Bern and Kyiv. In 1993, the Swiss ambassador in Kyiv and the Ukrainian ambassador in Bern were accredited. Switzerland and Ukraine have signed a large number of cooperation agreements in various areas since 1992.

Ukraine, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)