Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer travels to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. Nehammer met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Saturday, and he also visited Bucha, where Russian troops committed atrocities against civilians. Nehammer is the first Western head of government to visit Putin in the Kremlin since the beginning of the war. SRF correspondent Peter Balzli on Nehammer’s motives and criticism of the trip.
SRF News: What does Nehammer expect from this trip?
Peter Balzli: According to his own statements, his goal is to convince Putin of the idea of an immediate ceasefire. Nehammer also wants to talk to him about the war crimes. Here in Austria, the trip is viewed as a risky mission and criticized accordingly.
What is the main criticism of Nehammer?
The main criticism is that the chancellor will have no power over the pictures that will show him with Putin. Russian propaganda will exploit the images and emphasize that Russia is by no means isolated and that Europe is very much looking for proximity to Moscow. One can also imagine what these images will trigger in Ukraine.
There are fears that Russian propaganda will exploit the images of Nehammer and Putin.
In addition, Nehammer is demanding the same thing that Ukraine and the EU have been demanding since the beginning of the war with an immediate ceasefire. That is why Putin will hardly listen to Nehammer of all people now that he is launching a new major offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Nehammer wants to be a bridge builder and also wants to address Putin’s war crimes by his soldiers. Do you see a chance of success here?
Hope is always needed in the current situation. The only question is why a man who invades his neighboring country and commits the most horrible war crimes there should allow himself to be swayed by a chancellor of a small European country.
The risk is great that Nehammer’s visit could do more harm than good.
But of course: Europe and the West feel a great impotence – and who can blame Nehammer for doing something. But the risk is great that his visit could do more harm than good and, last but not least, cause discord in the EU.
Austria’s relations with Russia are considered to be close. Where does this bond between the two countries come from?
The relationships are deeply rooted in history. An important moment was that the Russians liberated Vienna from the Nazis during World War II. Austria now imports a great deal of crude oil and natural gas from Russia.
Putin used to spend his skiing holidays in Austria.
In addition, Putin has often spent his skiing holidays in Austria in the past, where he also met politicians and business leaders. Putin’s last official state visit to Vienna was four years ago.
How important is Austria for Putin and Russia?
The trade volume is certainly large because of the oil and gas imports, but Austria is just one of many countries that import fossil fuels from Russia – compared to India or China, Austria is only a small economic partner. Despite the good relations so far, Austria is certainly not a heavyweight for Russia and Putin – and there is hardly a country that could suddenly change his mind now, in the middle of his military attack on Ukraine.
Vera Deragisch conducted the conversation.