Major summit conference in Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron as a nod to Moscow. Chancellor Karl Nehammer: “We have always taken a clear position, but how can you make it clear to Putin that his strategy is leading Russia to a dead end?”
Grand French palace ceremony as President Macron invited NATO and EU states to a strategic exchange on the situation in Ukraine. The Austrian Chancellor was invited as one of four neutral countries in the EU, alongside Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Nehammer was also the last person in the group to meet Putin for a one-on-one meeting in Moscow.
The Chancellor brought the experiences from this Kremlin meeting to the summits. “The trip was not a friendly visit, even if it put you in the role of someone who understands Putin. “Austria has always taken a firm position in the conflict, namely: Russia may not be successful, but if it helps, I would fly to Moscow again,” the chancellor said.
Concerns about ‘stumbling into a major war’
Nehammer continued: “The point is to make it clear to Putin that his strategy is leading Russia to a dead end. Our goal should all be to stop the killing. “This also means that we need to understand our position in the global south, for example in India and the other BRICS countries.”
The Chancellor is concerned that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will turn into a major war between East and West – if, for example, NATO soldiers follow NATO weapons into Ukraine. “If we got into a really big war, we wouldn’t have more security,” Nehammer warned.
The French president had deliberately invited NATO and EU countries to Paris with the aim of creating a platform outside the more limited NATO area. First, it is intended to signal the unity of Europe and second, to allow Moscow to start negotiations if it is ever ready. Only NATO is a red flag for the Kremlin. The timing of the Paris summit coincides with the US Congress blocking aid to Ukraine and Sweden’s accession to NATO.
France sends few “high quality” weapons
So far, France has not attracted attention with major arms deliveries to Ukraine. “But our weapons are of high quality,” the people of Paris hastened to say. Austria supplies humanitarian goods in the medical sector and makes financial contributions at EU level.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
