How the Courier or the press report, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba recently sang the praises of neutral Austria. “Austria has proven that neutrality does not mean indifference.”
“It seems that I see you more often than my children,” said Austrian chief diplomat Alexander Schallenberg to his Ukrainian colleague at the EU Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Toledo, Spain, on September 1. Kuleba’s witty reply: “I apologize to your children.” Alexander Schallenberg and Dmytro Kuleba have an amicable relationship. In Toledo, he advised critics of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the Ukraine war to keep their mouths shut and try to liberate a square centimeter on the ground themselves – probably an indication of the laborious and bloody progress his soldiers were making. Similarly, he was hoping above all for commitments for more air defense systems, artillery ammunition, tanks and armored vehicles. From militarily neutral EU states such as Austria and Ireland, on the other hand, he wanted hardened rescue vehicles. Vienna has already delivered at least 25 rescue vehicles to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, mostly as donations from blue light organizations. However, these were probably not hardened (armored). According to the FMEIA, Vienna is in constant contact with Kiev and is examining the needs there.
Connected from Kiev
opening of the annual meeting of Austrian ambassadors on September 4 in Viennawhere he spoke via video from Kiev (see video below), Kuleba picked up the ball again and sang the praises of Austria’s interpretation of neutrality in times of war in Ukraine – and, as a trained diplomat, did his friend a favor. Volodymyr Selensky, his president, might have voiced a few points of criticism and “wishes”. Criticism from Kiev that neutral Austria was retreating to a “comfortable” position had previously come from Kiev in a restrained but repeated manner: No weapons should be supplied to Ukraine under the pretext of “military neutrality”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZPjskFIvbM&t=619s
Not so Kuleba: “Some people abuse neutrality as an excuse. But Austria demonstrates the opposite.” Morally on the right side, with a clear stance, active, not with military aid, but with humanitarian financial support to the tune of 314 million euros.” Kuleba, a friend of Austria, praised the government’s commitment in Vienna and its “diplomatic weight”, for example in South-East Europe.
“Some abuse neutrality as an excuse. But Austria demonstrates the opposite.
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Ukraines Außenminister Dmytro Kuleba
He also mentioned, among other things, the help in taking in Ukrainian war refugees, the “strong support” for the energy infrastructure and for the prosecution of Russia by the International Criminal Court. “All this came from an officially neutral country,” said Kuleba, “you have every reason to be proud of yourselves.” https://militaeraktuell.at/highlights-des-slovak-international-air-fest/
Praise for ski manufacturers
In addition, “not a single” Austrian company had withdrawn from Ukraine despite the war. In particular, he praised the ski company Fischer, which had invested in the country on a large scale. He is also counting on this for reconstruction, in particular on loans from Austrian banks, the provision of insurance cover for investment projects in Ukraine – and on the expropriation of frozen Russian accounts. “Russia must pay for the damage it has caused.” Sentimental feelings for Russia and its history are inappropriate, he said. “Russia is Europe’s biggest enemy today. A victory for Ukraine will shape a new Europe.” Kuleba hopes for support in the EU accession talks – and for Austria to play a leading role.
“Russia is Europe’s biggest enemy today. A victory in Ukraine will shape a new Europe.”
Ukraines Außenminister Dmytro Kuleba
He also raised this solidarity to a higher level: “Support for Ukraine is also support for the UN Charter.” Dmytro Kuleba wanted nothing to do with a premature peace or even the status of a “frozen conflict”. First a “victory on the battlefield”, then diplomacy – that is the formula for negotiations in Kiev. He drove the Ukrainian ultimatum position in like a stake: “There is no justice without the 1991 borders.” In other words: Ukraine is insisting – at least rhetorically – on the return of Crimea and the Donbass, without looking at realpolitik and willingness to compromise.
Standing ovations
The Austrian ambassadors gave the guest speaker from Kiev a standing ovation. The Foreign Minister, who had already declared himself a fan of the Salzburg Festival, invited them to toast Ukraine with a glass of yellow Muscatel. “Next time in the Wachau,” added Schallenberg, after emphasizing the quasi-neighbourhood based on geographical proximity, making a commitment to the prosecution of Russian war crimes and praising the strength and unity of the EU in high tones. According to the tenor among the foreign ministers, it is an effect of the war: Ukraine and the West have moved closer together – and Vienna and Lviv anyway. Incidentally, on the day of Kuleba’s speech, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed a new call-up of 200,000 troops from 11 September until 1 November.
