Attempts are being made to spread the narrative that the current crisis in terms of food, energy and finance is related to these sanctions, said Schallenberg in his speech to the general assembly and subsequently made it clear: “That’s just wrong!”
Sanction-free gas mentioned separately
“There are no EU sanctions for the export of grain, oilseeds or other foodstuffs, for fertilizers or gas to third countries,” emphasized the ÖVP foreign minister, according to the text of the speech. “Instead, the Russian Federation is cynically weaponizing food and energy.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is pushing “millions of needy people around the world into poverty, hunger and debt”. According to the UN Global Crisis Response Group, 1.7 billion people around the world are now affected.
Although the conflict in Ukraine is taking place in Europe, it is not a “European war,” said Schallenberg, emphasizing his position. But it was also “not a conflict between East and West or North and South,” argued the Foreign Minister. “The dividing line is between the rule of law and the law of the jungle.”
‘Nuclear Blackmail’, ‘Fake ‘Referendums’
Putin uses explicit “nuclear blackmail” and “falsified ‘referendums'” and thereby clearly violates international law. However, this applies “to everyone,” explained Schallenberg, “regardless of geographical, religious or ethnic context.” In addition, it was a “blatant and intentional violation of the founding charter of the United Nations,” emphasized the Foreign Minister. In this charter, each individual state has undertaken to “settle international disputes by peaceful means” and “to refrain from the threat of violence against the territorial integrity or political independence of a state”.
In addition, this violation was committed “not by any state,” reminded Schallenberg, but by a permanent member of the UN Security Council, “the body responsible for upholding the Charter and international peace and security.”
“Law of the Jungle”
The Foreign Minister stressed that this would “call into question the foundations of our security and stability”. “Suddenly we find ourselves in a world where the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle.” Such a world represents “a fundamental threat for all of us, especially for smaller countries like Austria”.
“This war of aggression against Ukraine has destroyed several illusions,” said Schallenberg: “The illusion that the security architecture that we created after the fall of the Iron Curtain would continue to pay a peace dividend and guarantee stability and prosperity. In addition, it has faith given that “the European peace project would prevent wars on our continent and that crises and tensions can ultimately be resolved by peaceful means, through dialogue and diplomacy.”
The EU reacts with further sanctions
Bucket of Ice Attack
“Russia’s attack was like a geopolitical bucket full of ice that was smashed in our faces,” said Schallenberg vividly. “It brutally tore us out of our daydreams of a post-historical, post-national Europe.”
Russia wants to settle its neo-imperialist score with “bombs and bayonets,” Schallenberg continued, “by targeting civilians and committing atrocities that can be classified as war crimes under international humanitarian law.” These “bombs and bayonets” would also be aimed at “the weakest countries in the world,” the foreign minister stated. “They are plunging them into a triple crisis of food, energy and finance shortages.”
The speech in which Putin announced a partial mobilization of the Russian population on Wednesday made it clear “that this conflict will not end any time soon,” the foreign minister regretted. But he immediately became combative: “We shouldn’t fall into fear, self-doubt and defeatism. Let’s be unshakable and ready to defend our values.”
Current updates on the war in Ukraine in the PULS 24 live blog:
The foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states agreed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York late Wednesday evening to tighten their sanctions against Russia in response to the partial mobilization in Russia announced by Putin. However, no specific details were given. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said states had made the political decision to take new sectoral and individual measures. In addition, the EU will continue to support Ukraine with more weapons. However, there was immediate opposition from Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called for EU sanctions to be lifted by the end of the year.
In the “ZiB2” of ORF television on Wednesday evening (CEST), Schallenberg referred to the previous EU sanctions packages: “What you could think of now are gap closures and clarifications.” There will be a “clear ‘no'” to further steps, “e.g. in the energy sector, especially in gas,” said Schallenberg, confirming Austria’s previous line.