Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) received a lot of criticism followingwards from the FPÖ for his visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin: the trip was “solely for his macho self-portrayal and distraction from the notorious domestic political calamities of the ÖVP”, said FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl in a broadcast on Tuesday. It seems as if Nehammer was “remotely controlled from Ukraine” and not self-determined.
Nehammer’s statement, according to which he would not have gone to Moscow if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had objected, was a “declaration of bankruptcy by neutral Austria,” said the head of the traditionally pro-Russian Blue Party. “In doing so, he has once more done the Republic a disservice, because he is taking Austria’s sovereignty ad absurdum.” Kickl missed words regarding possible peace negotiations or the future of energy supply, instead Nehammer only delivered a “transfiguration of his own appearance with empty words”.
SP-Leichtfried: “Going it alone, unsuccessful”
“The trip to Moscow was obviously a solo effort and in the end it was completely fruitless,” said Jörg Leichtfried, SPÖ spokesman for Europe and vice club boss. Discussions are important in view of the Russian war of aggression and the catastrophe in Ukraine, but Nehammer’s visit to Putin was “hasty and not well coordinated”, neither with the European partners nor with the Federal President or the coalition partner, Leichtfried criticized in a broadcast. The talks might have been an opportunity, but remained “completely fruitless” – no ceasefire, no humanitarian corridors.
The Greens, who obviously found out regarding the coalition partner’s travel plans to Putin from the media, are still extremely cautious. After the meeting between Nehammer and Putin, the Chancellor informed the Chancellor “promptly,” said Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler’s (Greens) office.
The Neos had already criticized Monday evening following the meeting on Twitter that Nehammer said he had told Putin “that the sanctions once morest Russia will remain in place and will be further tightened as long as people die in Ukraine”. Rather, the sanctions should “remain in place until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored,” said Neos boss Beate Meinl-Reisinger. “Everything else invites Putin to take further steps.”