ZURICH, (Reuters) – Ueli Maurer the Swiss Finance Minister ruled out any government support to consumers hurt by rising prices for energy and suggested that cuts in budget may be required because tax increases are not necessary to combat an impending economic storm.

In an interview, he said to the Tages-Anzeiger that “petrol prices in Switzerland are very affordable” in a Wednesday interview.

Maurer from the Right-Wing Swiss People’s Party is a fiscal hawk. He said that a recession was approaching, but the severity of it would depend on the duration and energy prices.

He said that the pressure on Swiss banks to enforce sanctions against Russians who are being punished by the West for invading Ukraine should be resisted.

We should actually say, “Slow down and don’t apply the sanctions with a Swiss finish,” According to him, “Our banks are likely to sanction more severely than anybody else.”

He suggested to Switzerland that it should make use of gas-fired energy plants, and to extend the lives of its nuclear power plant to meet its energy demands. Furthermore, Switzerland could finance gas terminals in Germany.