Russia expert takes Nehammer to the chest in ORF – politics
Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) travels to Russia via Turkey on Sunday evening and wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday afternoon. Austria’s head of government also wants to talk to Putin about the atrocities in Ukraine, including the massacre in Bucha.
Chancellor Nehammer flies to war criminal Putin
The aim of the trip to Moscow is to promote dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. Austria has a great tradition as a “bridge builder”. “We are a neutral country, but we have a clear stance on the war and will die,” says the Federal Chancellery.
Russia expert Gerhard Mangott from the University of Innsbruck spoke to ORF moderator Martin Thür on Sunday in ZIB2 about the planned Chancellor’s visit to Moscow and spared no criticism. “I don’t think this visit was a wise decision. Not at all,” said Mangott.
Because nobody in the European Union was waiting for a “bridge-builder” function. In addition, the Eastern Europeans would sharply criticize the expected meeting. According to the expert, people in Russia would also know that little Austria had “no weight” in order to influence the EU’s opinion on Russia.
“hard to understand”
At the meeting, Nehammer wants to campaign for humanitarian corridors, an immediate ceasefire and a full investigation into war crimes in Ukraine. But is that realistic at all? “No, an immediate ceasefire is a Ukrainian demand,” said the Russia expert.
In addition, it would be better if Ukraine spoke directly to the Russian side on the subject of escape corridors, for example. Chancellor Nehammer “as a mediator” is “difficult to understand here,” explains Mangott. It is also not entirely clear what Nehammer expects from the visit. It’s also a big risk for him.
Nehammer meeting for Russian propaganda
Austria’s head of government does not have the “power over the pictures” in Russia. The Russian state television will clearly use the meeting on Monday for its propaganda and will also show Putin that he is not isolated. Nehammer provided the Kremlin boss with glorious TV pictures.
In addition, Russia is preparing for a major offensive in Donbass, for the obvious minimum goal. “No one wants to talk about a ceasefire and not even think about it,” Gerhard Mangott unmistakably clarifies in ZIB2.
In addition, Karl Nehammer’s negotiating position is “undoubtedly” lower than that of French President Emmanuel Macron or German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to the expert, neither Macron nor Scholz would now travel to Russia so as not to begrudge Putin these TV pictures.
mediation visit “questionable”
“It is also a bit questionable why this mediation visit should take place in Moscow now, when Austria rightly and quite clearly sided with Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression,” said Mangott. And further: “What weight does the chancellor expect to have in Moscow?”
The communication would not fit together “from front to back”. But what role does Austria actually play for Ukraine? “Austria has always been important for Russia, as a country that celebrated the fact that there are EU states that are looking for good relations with Russia,” explains the expert.
But: “That’s history with Austria’s behavior since the outbreak of this war. And I’ll also say explicitly: ‘That was the right way.” Austria has “lost all trust and status” in Russia.