On 3 May the Ukrainian embassy to Switzerland submitted an official request to the Federal Assembly for President Zelensky to deliver a virtual address to the Swiss Parliament. A decision on such a request lies with the Offices of the National Council and the Council of States. At their meeting today, they decided to grant this request. The video address is expected to take place during the summer session. The exact date will be set in consultation with Ukraine.
In their declarations of 28 February 2022 (22.023) and of 1 March 2022 (22.024), the National Council and Council of States clearly positioned themselves against Russian aggression and condemned the unlawful attack on Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Today's decision by the Offices must be seen in the light of these statements by the National Council and the Council of States.
Since 1970, 28 guest speakers have addressed the Federal Assembly (see www.parliament.ch). These included national presidents and representatives of international organisations as well as a foreign minister and a senate president. There has never previously been a virtual address by a foreign president.