“Undermined” – Kremlin attacks Austria – Ukraine
The Kremlin is once again targeting Austria politically. Our country has distinguished itself as “anti-Russian,” neutrality has been “undermined.”
Presumably, Russian President Vladimir Putin had the head of the department responsible for Austria in the Russian Foreign Ministry explain how Russia and the Kremlin are now regarding Austria. Oleg Tyapkin, who was actually considered a hot candidate to succeed the current Russian ambassador to Vienna, Dmitri Lyubinsky, was asked by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti whether Austria could mediate in the Ukraine matter.
In addition, it was asked whether our country would still offer itself as a mediator after “sharp statements” by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. Tjapkin then firmly ruled out that Austria could still play a mediating role in any form. “It has to be said with regret that Austrian neutrality is in fact being undermined,” the head of department is quoted as saying in the interview.
“Anti-Russian Sanctions Measures”
Tyapkin complained that Austria had participated in all of the European Union’s “anti-Russian sanctions” and had attracted attention with “anti-Russian statements”. In any case, Austria also “played a part in a staged campaign to expel Russian diplomats,” it said. “However much official representatives of Austria would like to use themselves to convince themselves and the public of the imperturbability of neutrality – to speak the facts of the opposite.”
Shortly after Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and a few days after the start of the war, the Kremlin published a list of states that had begun “unfriendly actions” against Russia – for example in the form of sanctions – including Austria as an “unfriendly state”. recorded. Even then, it provoked the “apparently neutral Austria” and the “emotional anti-Russian rhetoric” of our country.