The head of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Tyapkin, has ruled out that Austria could play an intermediary role between Russia and Ukraine. “It is with regret that Austrian neutrality is indeed being undermined,” Tyapkin said.
The Austrian government supported all of the European Union’s “anti-Russian sanctions”, distinguished itself with sharp “anti-Russian statements” and “played a role in a staged campaign to expel Russian diplomats,” Tyapkin said in an interview with the Austrian government. The Russian state news agency published RIA Novosti on Thursday.
At least before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tyapkin was regarded in informed circles as a likely successor to the current Russian ambassador to Vienna, Dmitry Lyubinsky. “No matter how hard Austria’s official representatives try to convince themselves and the public of the steadfastness of neutrality, the facts say the opposite,” replied the senior diplomat.
RIA Novosti specifically asked whether Austria could represent Ukraine’s interests in Russia or whether it could still act as a mediator between Moscow and Kiev after “sharp statements” by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Source: Krone
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