Following his visit to Kiev, the Austrian Foreign Minister will meet with Vladimir Putin on Monday in Moscow to address the invasion of Ukraine

The head of the Austrian government, conservative Karl Nehammer, will tomorrow be the first leader of the European Union (EU) to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin since he launched the invasion of Ukraine, in a meeting in Moscow with whom he wants, as he said, to contribute to peace but also to point out the war crimes committed by the troops Russian.

Nehammer told the media this Sunday that the initiative was based on him and that he informed the authorities of the European Union (EU) and the President of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelensky, whom he visited yesterday in Kiev.

The chancellor said he is determined to “do everything in his power to ensure that steps are taken towards peace,” APA reported.

Although he admitted that the chances of success are slim, he stressed that his stance is not that of “doing nothing” but that he wants to act as a “bridge builder”.

The head of the Austrian Government pointed out that he will not be “morally neutral” and that during the meeting with the Russian president he will address the “war crimes” of which accuses Russia in Ukraine.

“We must do everything we can to help people in Ukraine stop the war,” Nehammer justified his meeting with Putin, the first of a European Union leader since the invasion began on February 24.

However, he called the trip to Moscow a “risky mission”.

Nehammer explained that he planned this visit during his trip to Ukraine this weekend in order, as he himself said, to show his support for Ukraine, which has been invading Russia for six weeks.

The conservative politician told the media in Vienna that he has talked about his trip to Moscow with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Council, Charles Michel, and also with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Austria is a member of the European Union but not of NATO.

It has claimed its status as a neutral country in order not to send weapons in support of Ukraine, but it has strongly condemned Russia's attack, denouncing war crimes committed by its troops and participating in the sanctions imposed so far by the EU.

It has also expelled four Russian diplomats, although it was one of the last EU countries to join this measure, which accelerated in recent days after images of the massacre of civilians attributed to Russian troops in the Ukrainian city of Bucha spread.

Austria is one of the EU countries that most strongly opposes the purchase of Russian gas, on which its economy is heavily dependent.

Foreign Ministers of the European Union will meet this Monday in Luxembourg to address the war in Ukraine, following Von der Leyen and Borrell's Friday support trip to Kiev.

The meeting will take place just three days after the EU countries have approved the fifth sanctions package since the invasion began, which includes a ban on Russian coal purchases starting in August.

The Twenty-Seven are currently ruling out measures against oil and gas, which are much more lucrative for the Kremlin at a time when the EU pays Russia 1 billion euros a day in energy purchases, but more difficult to sanction because of the high dependence of the countries of eastern and central Europe.

Von der Leyen said in the European Chamber that Brussels is preparing sanctions against Russian oil and Charles Michel said that “sooner or later” the option of also punishing gas will have to be considered.

Borrell stated that “the objective” of including oil “will be discussed in the Council of Foreign Ministers”, although European sources insist that the issue “will not be on the table on Monday”, while other sources do not consider that there is anything “decisive” at the meeting.

With information from EFE

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