“Our worst expectations have come true,” wrote Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) on Thursday morning on Twitter. “The EU will react quickly, united and in no uncertain terms,” emphasized Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen called on Russia to turn back. “President Putin must stop the attack immediately and return to negotiations.”
- Liveblog: Current developments in Ukraine
Travel warning for the whole of Ukraine
Austria imposed one on Thursday travel warning for all of Ukraine. “Because of the unpredictable security situation, we urgently warn against all trips to Ukraine. It is urgently advised to leave Ukraine immediately,” the Foreign Ministry said on its website.
Austrian Airlines (AUA) is suspending all flights to Ukraine with immediate effect. AUA had already suspended its regular flights to Kiev and Odessa on Monday until the end of February. Now the city of Lviv is no longer served, said an AUA spokeswoman. The Moldovan capital Chisinau is also affected by the flight stop. There are currently no overflights in Ukrainian airspace. “The safety of our passengers and crew members is our top priority at all times,” it said.
The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is also stopping flights to Ukraine after the airspace there was closed. Lufthansa, like most other companies, stopped flying last weekend.
“blatant violation of international law”
“In the last few hours, the Russian Federation has again committed a blatant violation of international law, which we deeply reject and unequivocally condemn,” Nehammer said. “Austria’s unreserved solidarity is with Ukraine. In these difficult hours, our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine.”
It is certain “that this renewed attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine will not go unanswered,” said Nehammer. He had already spoken to EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of government said in the run-up to the special EU summit planned for Thursday evening. “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 crisis cabinet of the Federal Government, the Federal President and the parliamentary parties”.
“The Russian narrative of helping endangered separatist areas against an alleged aggression is transparent and far-fetched,” the Chancellor’s Office statement emphasized. “On the contrary: in recent 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.” Nehammer called on Russia to end aggression and return to the negotiating table. It is important to “prevent an even greater escalation and a war on European soil”.
Van der Bellen: “Do everything we can to contribute to peace”
Van der Bellen also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the “military attack by Russia that violated international law”. If Putin doesn’t stop him, “the use of military force on the European continent will change relations with the Russian neighbor for decades,” warned the Federal President. “Everything must now be done to avoid further escalation and to protect human life,” said Van der Bellen. “We will do everything that the Republic of Austria can do as a neutral state to contribute to peace. Peace must come first,” emphasized the Federal President. The way to the negotiating table must be open to all sides.
Like Nehammer and Van der Bellen, Foreign Minister Schallenberg also clearly supported Kiev. “Russia has chosen the path of violence. In these difficult hours, we stand by Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” he said in a tweet. Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) was also “deeply shocked by the events in Ukraine”. “Especially as a neutral state, we cannot accept this aggression. Our red line is international law.”
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas, condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine as a “disgusting act of war”. “The EU must and will now impose further sanctions. Putin will be held accountable for this. Our solidarity and prayers are with the people of Ukraine,” he wrote on Twitter.
A few hours before the Russian attacks began, Nehammer had declared that Austria was ready to take in Ukrainian refugees. “It’s different in Ukraine than in countries like Afghanistan. We’re talking about neighborly help,” said Nehammer on Wednesday evening in ORF’s “ZiB2”. “If a neighboring country (…) is threatened, then it is important to help in solidarity. Austria has always done that,” he said, referring to the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s. However, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary are likely to be the most important target countries.
The chancellor also made it clear that Austria would survive a halt to Russian gas supplies in the current winter season. There is enough gas in the storage facilities to “at least get through the winter well,” he emphasized.
“Ukraine closer than Bregenz”: Nehammer in the ZiB2
Source: Nachrichten
