Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen has called on the Russian leadership to end its war of aggression against Ukraine and engage in serious and honest negotiations aimed at a peaceful settlement.
The Austrian head of state spoke during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Vienna on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“It is obvious that Russia is the aggressor. I once again appeal to the Kremlin leadership: stop this illegal war and start serious and honest negotiations. Ukraine, as President Zelensky assured me today, is ready for peace,” he said.
Van der Bellen added that such peace “is impossible without Ukraine, without its participation or without taking into account its security interests.”
“Since February 2022, Ukraine has been fighting off the Russian invasion. It is fighting for what seems all too obvious to us here in peaceful Central Europe. The people of Ukraine do not want to be Russian subjects. They are fighting for their freedom and the right to self-determination, and therefore for the principles that form the foundation of our European order,” the Austrian president said.
He stressed that a country’s freedom also means that “it can choose its own system of values.”
“And I believe that Ukraine has clearly shown which system it has chosen – the rule of law, an open society, and democracy. These values must be protected from, so to speak, a ‘value system’ based on military aggression, violence against neighbors, and oppression of dissent. Ukraine is in this fight not only for itself, but for the whole of Europe. And for us, too. Dear Mr President, I thank you for that. And that is why I particularly appreciate that you are here with us today,” Van der Bellen said.
He pointed out that immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “Austria without hesitation sided with international law and Ukraine”.
“Austria is militarily neutral, but by no means politically. The return of war to Europe with all its cruelty, the unbearable daily footage and reports of destruction and immense suffering of Ukrainian men, women, and children encourage us to pursue our solidarity and support. They remind us that we must do everything possible to put an end to this conflict,” the Austrian president said.
He assured that Austria would continue supporting Ukraine, including during the country’s reconstruction.
As Ukrinform reported, Zelensky is paying an official visit to the Republic of Austria on Monday, June 16, where he was scheduled to hold talks with President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.
Source: Austrian President calls on Russia to end war against Ukraine, start serious talks
