A former German minister. Schily recommends the “Swiss Model” for Ukraine.

“You have to live with your neighbours, including with Russia”: former German Interior Minister Otto Schily calls for a neutral status for Ukraine, similar to Switzerland.

Former German Interior Minister Otto Schily Ukraine He advocated a neutral perspective based on the Swiss model. Shelley told dpa in Berlin that everyone should recognize that Ukraine wants to remain independent. “But at the same time, it should be clear that you have to live with your neighbors, including with Russia,” Shelley said. Both sides have interests that must be taken into account.”

Shelly noted the ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of Ukraine. “Multilingualism, including the Russian language, is an undeniable fact.” Advice from the sidelines is always accompanied by a question mark. “But a look at other countries shows that the interests of all parties can be protected if the country remains militarily neutral,” Schily said. Thus, Chile rejects Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

Shelley said Switzerland ideally understood “the development of a free society that respects different ethnic backgrounds and military neutrality”. “A peaceful solution to Ukraine could take an example from the Swiss model.” Chile, on the other hand, continued that he did not see “how Ukraine’s accession to the EU should work without the EU being overstretched.”

dpa