Austria is a neutral country – politicians like to use this fact to make things easy for themselves. Arms supplies to Ukraine? If it happens within the framework of the EU, Austria does not have to interfere any further, is the quite unanimous opinion in almost all parties. Humanitarian demining in Ukraine? Unfortunately, this is not compatible with neutrality, says the Minister of Defence, although countless experts see it differently.

After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time last year, German Chancellor Karl Nehammer promptly traveled to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin. The message: We are neutral, you talk to all sides! As is well known, Nehammer was not able to mediate successfully, but no one had expected that anyway.

Zoom Image

Vladimir Putin with then Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl at their wedding

Photo: REUTERS TV / REUTERS

Austria maintained excellent relations with Russia in particular for many years, and to this day its dependence on Russian gas is higher than almost anywhere else. The curtsey of the then Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl in front of Putin at her own wedding in 2018, to which she had invited the Russian president to Austria, remains unforgotten. To this day, Kneissl proudly demonstrates her closeness to Moscow, and is currently even said to be considering moving to Russia.

The Kneissl case is probably the strangest example of Austria's handling of the current situation. It was once brought into government by the FPÖ, but today the extreme right-wing party stands for a withdrawal of sanctions against Russia.

Asylum for a war criminal?

However, many Austrian politicians are not very sure-footed when it comes to foreign policy or even geostrategic issues. Rather, it is the case that European and foreign policy affairs are mainly used in Austria to change political change at home. What Austrian politicians have recently attracted attention with:

  • On Sunday, German Chancellor Karl Nehammer convened his so-called crisis cabinet to brief the most important members of the government on the situation in Russia. Afterwards, the Chancellor declared that he would "not allow" that "an internal Russian affair was carried out on Austrian soil". Sounds good, but what does that mean? What "internal Russian affair" is being imported? The confusion was resolved in this way: Nehammer had referred to the fact that embassies and other buildings that could be affected by "activism" are now better guarded preventively.

  • Shortly thereafter, the Minister of the Interior made people sit up and take notice. Gerhard Karner replied to journalists when asked whether mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin could get asylum in Austria, apparently taken by surprise, somewhat woodenly: This would have to be clarified within the framework of a "case-by-case examination". Possible asylum for a war criminal? Karner's office moved out to make it clear that Prigozhin was on the EU's sanctions list anyway, so the question did not arise at all. The minister's answer referred to "Prigozhin's people."

  • A few days earlier, Philip Kucher, the new leader of the Austrian Social Democrats, had declared in an interview with Der Standard: "It is a senseless war on both sides." In general, the SPÖ is finding it particularly difficult to find a sovereign way of dealing with Russia and the war. When Zelensky delivered a video address in the Austrian parliament, the ranks of the Social Democrats were half empty. The reason for this was certainly not Russia-friendliness of the party, it was said afterwards. Rather, there were "reservations" about the event itself. It was organized by Wolfgang Sobotka, the president of the National Council, who is an ÖVP man.

    • Even the new SPÖ leader Andreas Babler has apparently recognized a certain shortcoming in this regard and announced a "comeback of the SPÖ in foreign policy". It remains to be seen how this will be achieved.

    Finally, a recommendation: In our podcast Inside Austria this week, we accompanied Anja Windl, the young woman who is called "Climate Shakira" on social media and by the tabloids. It glues itself to highways for the last generation – but does the protest group really succeed in the fight against the climate crisis with these methods? Listen in.

    Social Media Moment of the Week

    Stephanie Krisper, a member of the National Council for the liberal Neos, found – like many on Twitter – derisive words for the chancellor's efforts to keep "internal Russian affairs" away from Austria. She speaks of a "stupidity" of the discourse.

    Stories we recommend to you today:

    • How the planned attack on the Vienna Rainbow Parade came about: The state security used the allegedly planned attack on the Rainbow Parade in Vienna to advertise for more powers. But question marks remain.

    • Is the Last Generation failing? Media personality cult and sticking actions – the last generation divides opinions. But are the climate activists achieving their goals?

    • "Russian conflict" on Austrian soil? How Nehammer's statement is to be understood: The chancellor declared that he would not allow a Russian conflict to be carried to Austria. The Ministry of the Interior speaks of "possible effects", but current measures are "nothing out of the ordinary".

    • What's behind the new attempt at active euthanasia: Assisted suicide has been allowed for a year and a half, but the law does not go far enough for critics: they see a lot of harassment – and are once again going to the Supreme Court.

    Greetings from Vienna
    Katharina Mittelstaedt, Editor-in-Chief of DER STANDARD