It is certain “that these renewed attacks on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine will not go unanswered,” said Nehammer. He has already spoken to EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, explained the head of government, who will travel to a special EU summit on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the afternoon. “The EU will respond swiftly, united and in no uncertain terms. We are coordinating with our European and like-minded partners what further action to take towards Russia.” He is also in constant contact “with the Federal Government’s crisis cabinet, the Federal President and the parliamentary parties”.
“The Russian narrative of aid to vulnerable separatist areas against alleged aggression is transparent and far-fetched,” the Chancellor’s Office statement stressed. “On the contrary: in the last few weeks, the Ukrainian government has considered the massive Russian threat and has reacted with the greatest restraint. A victim-perpetrator reversal is obviously being attempted here.”
Russia is called on to stop further aggression and return to the negotiating table immediately. “It is still important to prevent an even greater escalation and a war on European soil. Unilateral acts of war are never a solution, they only create more violence, suffering and destabilization.”
Even before the escalation in the night, Nehammer had said on Wednesday evening on ORF television’s “ZiB2″ that Austria was ready to accept refugees from Ukraine. “Ukraine is different than countries like Afghanistan. We’re talking about neighborhood help,” said Nehammer on Wednesday evening in ORF’s “ZiB2”. “If a neighboring state (…) is threatened, then it is important to help in solidarity. Austria has always done that,” he referred to the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s.
With a view to the Ukraine war in 2014, Nehammer expressed the expectation that Poland, Slovakia and Hungary would be the most important destination countries for refugees. In a first phase, these countries should be “helped in solidarity”. “Then, if it is necessary,” they will “help in solidarity,” said the former interior minister when asked specifically whether Austria was ready to take in refugees.
The Chancellor also made it clear that Austria no longer needs Russian gas this winter. There is currently “supply security” and Austria has enough gas in its storage facilities to “at least get through the winter well”. “It is very important for the coming winter that we pursue a new strategy here,” said Nehammer in favor of passing a gas stockpiling law based on the model of a corresponding regulation for oil.
Nehammer conceded that the time for negotiations in the Ukraine conflict was “at least for the time being” over. Putin could order the invasion “in a second”. Unlike in the past, the European Union is now united in opposing him. “This unity is something completely new for the Russian Federation,” said Nehammer, who assured that Austria would also “behave in solidarity with the other states” when it came to sanctions against Russia. Although Austria is militarily neutral, it shows solidarity within the EU, and “as a neutral country it has a special right to ensure that international law is observed,” said the Chancellor, who spoke with his EU counterparts at a special summit in Brussels on Thursday evening further steps against Russian aggression in Europe will be discussed.
Austria also offers itself as a “bridge image” and has also started several initiatives in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). There had been many offers of dialogue, but “unfortunately, they were rejected by Putin”. “As Austrian Federal Chancellor, I call on the Russian Federation to assume its responsibilities as a major military power and not start a war in Europe,” said Nehammer. “There’s still a chance you can start talking to each other to prevent the worst.”
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on Thursday night. “I made the decision to have a military operation,” he said in a televised address. US President Joe Biden announced a reaction, saying that Russia had “deliberately” started a “war” against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed martial law on all parts of the country.
