"Finance the war!"

SPÖ and NEOS want to turn away from Russian gas

Die Preise für russisches Erdgas steigen.

(Bild: AP)

Two years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Austria's leading politicians continue to call for support for Ukraine. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler said on Friday, according to a press release, that close cooperation within the European Union, effective sanctions that cannot be circumvented and Austria's independence from Russian gas are needed. Austria must "finally wake up", demanded NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger.

"It is unacceptable that two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we are still financing Putin's war of aggression through our enormous dependence on Russian gas. The federal government must finally ensure that Austria becomes independent of Russia in terms of energy supply," Babler told the SPÖ press service. The red politician welcomed the legal basis adopted by the EU for using the frozen funds of the Russian central bank for the reconstruction of Ukraine. These funds should also be used to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe.

Andreas Babler

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

NEOS: "Turning point has not arrived in the government"
Putin's war of aggression is a turning point for Europe and therefore also for Austria, according to the NEOS leader. "However, this turning point has not arrived in Austria due to the inaction of this federal government," criticized Meinl-Reisinger. "Putin must not be allowed to get his way in Ukraine. Our very own security policy interests are at stake." A new security strategy is still lacking and Austria is still dependent on Putin's Russian gas - recently more than ever. "This federal government is responsible for the fact that even two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Austria is not only co-financing the war and the suffering of the Ukrainian population to the tune of billions, but is also still vulnerable to blackmail due to its dependence on gas."

Meinl-Reisinger also vented her displeasure on Platform X:

Brandstätter: "Ukraine is fighting for European values"
Russia's President "Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for his war crimes. The EU Parliament stands behind the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court and also supports the establishment of a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine," said SPÖ EU delegation leader Andreas Schieder. The NEOS lead candidate for the EU elections, Helmut Brandstätter, who himself has been to Ukraine four times since 2022, emphasized that only a strong and defensive Europe would make Austria safe. "For two years, Ukraine has been fighting against Putin and for our European values, for our security, for peace and freedom."

"As part of the free world, Austria will continue to stand by Ukraine in full solidarity for as long as necessary," assured Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, according to the press release. "President Putin has it in his hands to end this war today by withdrawing his troops completely. His imperial dreams of restoring Russia as a great power have turned out to be a castle in the air," said the Foreign Minister. Over 107,000 displaced persons from Ukraine are registered in Austria to date, of whom around 70,000 are still in the country. With more than 210 million euros in state financial and humanitarian aid, Austria is one of the largest supporters of Ukraine and its neighboring countries. EUR 80 million of this alone came from the Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF). In addition, deliveries of material goods from the federal states and municipalities are continuing.