I think we've seen how the Swiss manage it, and that's by bending over backwards and generally debasing themselves in order to not upset the like of Putin.
Most countries manage by joining alliances like NATO and the EU that let them shelter under the protection of British, French and US nuclear weapons. Why cant' we be like them? Well I supposed we could, but then look at Trumps' plans to leave NATO. If we get rid of our nuclear weapons and that happened, all of Europe would be relying on France's nuclear weapons to shield us, and that's a very fraught position to be in.