A senior Russian official has called on the United Nations to clarify what it means to be a neutral state, while accusing Switzerland of abandoning that status.

Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, made the remarks in a statement to reporters, as reported by the state news agency TASS. She argued that Switzerland, traditionally seen as a neutral country, is moving away from this status.

The official claimed this shift is because Switzerland follows directives from the European Union and supports sanctions that Russia considers illegal. Matviyenko’s statement reflects Moscow’s persistent critique of Western nations and international bodies in the context of the Ukraine conflict.