Anniversary of the invasion

Austria’s politicians back Ukraine

Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg

(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg have pledged Austria's "unwavering solidarity" with Ukraine on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. "Russia started this illegal war of aggression. And it is Russia that must end it," emphasized Schallenberg on Saturday.

In his own video message, which according to the presidential chancellery will also be used on Ukrainian TV, Van der Bellen declared to the Ukrainians: "Ukraine belongs to the European family." Russia had started "an unjustified and heinous war of aggression" two years ago. The Federal President spoke of two years of "immeasurable human loss and suffering". He praised the "heroic resistance" of the Ukrainians. "Their sacrifice must not be in vain."

Schallenberg: "Senseless war"
Schallenberg spoke of a "senseless war". "After two years of fighting, Russia is no closer to victory in this war." Austria's support for Ukraine remains "as unwavering as it was on day one", Schallenberg continued. Austria stands by Ukraine in its fight for freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity. "The citizens of Ukraine deserve a just and lasting peace."

Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, foreign policy spokesperson for the Greens, emphasized that Ukraine "must not be delivered into the bloody hands of dictator Putin". "If Russia achieves its war aims, the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian identity would be history," explained Ernst-Dziedzic. "Standing by Ukraine is not just a moral imperative, but a security policy obligation," said Ernst-Dziedzic. She also described it as a "security risk" that the FPÖ had never distanced itself from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kickl identifies "warmongering by the EU"
FPÖ Federal Party Chairman Herbert Kickl criticized the EU's "warmongering" in view of the hundreds of thousands of victims on both sides. "Instead of exerting pressure from the outset and bringing both warring parties to serious negotiations, the EU Commission has accelerated the escalation spiral even further by supplying more and more weapons," explained Kickl. To believe that a war would end quickly with arms deliveries was "outrageous and irresponsible".