Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is shocked by the massacre in the Kiev suburb of Butscha. “The horrific images of civilians shot to death in Bucha show that war crimes have been committed there. They must be fully clarified and those responsible held accountable,” Nehammer wrote on Twitter.
“The Russian military is responsible for this,” Nehammer added on Twitter.
The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reacted shocked on Twitter. It also promised an investigation into all crimes committed by the UN Commission of Inquiry.
reactions from other parties
There were also initial reactions from representatives of political parties. If the reports come out, “the EU and the global community should respond much more clearly than before,” Georg Bürstmayr, a member of the Green National Council, wrote on Twitter. Viennese MP Jörg Konrad (NEOS) described Butscha’s photos as “unbearable”. “Military support and sanctions must be massively increased,” he said.
Call for gas stop
Similar requirements were also set in Germany. While Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially only asked for “ruthless” clarification, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke of tougher sanctions. Defense Minister Lambrecht mentioned a gas stop, but referred to the necessary clarifications within the EU.
So far, Germany, along with Austria, has been one of the inhibitors within the EU when it comes to stopping Russian gas supplies. On the other hand, the Baltic states announced on Sunday that they had completely stopped using Russian gas at the beginning of this month.
Stricter sanctions against Russia needed
Given the latest developments, the chairman of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, called for a drastic tightening of sanctions against Russia. “It is high time to stop coal and oil deliveries from Russia and increase arms deliveries to Ukraine,” the German Christian Socialist told the Funke media group newspapers.
“Terrible and Unbearable”
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called the photos from Bucha “appalling and unbearable”. In addition to a “fifth package of sanctions”, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas also called for more arms supplies to Ukraine. Her Slovenian colleague Janez Jansa emphasized: “Our top priority must be increased military support. Tanks and suhois (Russian fighter planes, ed.) can only be stopped by modern missiles.”
Source: Krone
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