Schallenberg warns: – ‘Be careful what we wish for Russia’

There is an international arrest warrant against Putin, but the point is not that “Russia loses, is divided into parts, or that there will be a regime change”. In any case, he is not concerned with “regime change,” Schallenberg said in an interview with APA. However, the ultimately aborted march on Moscow launched in June by the Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his recently reported death in a plane crash also mean there are “cracks in the system” in Russia. “It shows that not everything is as homogeneous and in one piece as you would sometimes get the impression from the outside.”

Prigozhin’s death ‘not entirely surprising’
Schallenberg does not question the news of Prigozchin’s death in itself. After all, this was officially confirmed by Moscow. It would be “an incredible loss of face for the Kremlin if Prigozhin suddenly turned up somewhere in Africa”. In addition, Prigozchin’s death “doesn’t come as a complete surprise,” says Schallenberg.

However, Schallenberg does not see any significant danger that the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine could escalate and expand. “There is actually always danger if you observe the situation in the Black Sea, for example,” says the minister. “But you have to credit the partners in NATO and the United States for being careful from day one not to create situations that would lead to an escalation.” But that also applies to the Russian Page. “So even with the brutal missiles and drone fire on Ukraine, the Russian side is clearly making sure that nothing infringes on NATO territory, i.e. Poland for example.”

“Putin’s useful idiots”: Anger over article
Schallenberg is annoyed by a ranking of “Putin’s useful idiots” published by the British magazine “The Economist” in July, according to which Austria is the second most important henchman of Russian President Putin in Europe, after Hungary under the right-wing conservative prime minister. Victor Orban. “These stories are completely false and irk me because they build on past events, such as my predecessor’s behavior.”

Of course Austria – “like Germany and other countries” – also historically had a close relationship with Russia, but since February 24, 2022 – the day of the Russian attack on Ukraine – the Austrian federal government has had a very, very clear policy. course on this issue: “We are militarily neutral, there are no arms deliveries to Ukraine, nor will there be in the future, but we are not neutral in terms of beliefs, we are not neutral in terms of values.”

Austria helps
In fact, when it comes to humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Austria ranks among the top positions globally per capita. “These journalists would therefore do well to look at Austria’s current line and not just dig into the past,” Schallenberg told the critics. In any case, Austria will continue to support Ukraine, and help with demining will also be a major problem.

In view of Russia’s or China’s attempts to gain influence in Africa or Latin America, for example, or the formation of alliances such as those of the BRICS countries, Europe must be careful not to consider our European perception as global, warns the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Many other states see a fragmented world in which there are different poles of power: the US, the EU, China, Russia and others. For example, you cannot force African states to choose the West, China or Russia. Europe must accept when these states say: “We will trade with China, we will buy munitions and military goods from Russia, and we will trade with you.”