Switzerland on Feb. 28 chose to throw its weight behind sanctions the European Union imposed on Russia last week in a dramatic departure from the country’s neutral stance on conflicts between nations. The Swiss government adopted the sanctions imposed by the European Union on February 23 and 25, freezing the assets of a number of people and companies. Switzerland also sanctioned President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said the financial restrictions will be implemented with immediate effect. Finance Minister Ueli Maurer added that Switzerland supports the international decision to cut off Russian banks from the global SWIFT bank messaging system. “Playing into the hands of an aggressor is not neutral,” Cassis said. Russian assets held in Swiss banks account for $11.24 billion according to 2020 Swiss National Bank data. Cassis added that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was an attack on a free country’s sovereignty, …