Austria for peace talks with Russia to avoid major East-West war
Photo: Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer (GettyImages)
Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer declared the need to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. He believes that BRICS can be involved in this, reports El Mundo.
According to Nehammer, in the third year of a full-scale war in Ukraine, "more" needs to be done to end hostilities. In his opinion, it is necessary to start negotiations and "involve more" other states, such as Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, which together with Russia form the BRICS group.
"This trip was not a friendly visit, even if it puts you in the role of an apologist for Putin. Austria has always had a strong position on the conflict, namely: Russia should not succeed, but if it helps, I would fly to Moscow again," said the chancellor.
Nehammer is concerned that Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine could escalate into a major war between East and West - for example, if NATO soldiers appear in Ukraine following the NATO weapons.
"Getting into full-scale war will not make us more secure," he said.
Negotiations with Russia
In December of last year, The New York Times reported, citing sources, that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is allegedly sending "signals" to the West about his desire to freeze the war against Ukraine and start negotiations.
According to two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin, as well as US and international officials, Putin is proposing to freeze hostilities along the current lines, the publication said. Putin also sent the same signals a year earlier - in the fall of 2022.
According to Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Moscow really wants the war to end as soon as possible, despite the claims of Russian propaganda. Ukraine also wants this, but on its own terms and under the norms of international law.
According to analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin can use "signals" to the West about its alleged readiness to put the war against Ukraine "on hold" attempting to reduce defense assistance to Ukraine from the partners. Experts think that similar manipulations from Putin have occurred before, particularly regarding negotiations.
