Austria’s role as peacemaker greatly overestimated – expert

This was stated by Austrian political scientist Martin Malek in an interview with Ukrinform.

“When it comes to Austria, many people in politics and beyond tend to greatly overestimate its role and capabilities as a ‘peacemaker’ simply because it is a neutral country. The reality, however, is entirely different: Austria has never successfully mediated or led peace negotiations in any international conflict since 1955. Its influence on global affairs is actually very small,” Malek said.

The expert expressed skepticism that Russia’s war against Ukraine will end through negotiations.

“That is highly doubtful. Many Western politicians, media, and analysts convince themselves otherwise, believing that Putin simply needs the right ‘offers’ or that he allegedly ‘wants peace’ – as repeatedly claimed by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the reality on the battlefield suggests the opposite,” he explained.

Commenting on the ‘Trump factor’, Malek highlighted its unpredictability.

“Unfortunately, the ‘Trump factor’ is completely unforeseeable. How can one trust a U.S. president who jokes about annexing Canada and Greenland, expresses a desire to ‘befriend’ Putin, blames Ukraine for starting the war, and calls President Zelensky – but not Putin – a ‘dictator’?” Malek questioned.

He warned that the EU and Ukraine must prepare as quickly as possible for the possibility that Trump could suspend all U.S. support for Ukraine and potentially undermine NATO commitments.

Malek cautioned that such a scenario could lead to a greater threat to European security.

“If Trump cuts support and Putin achieves a ‘victory’ in Ukraine, Russia could invade the Baltic states or Poland — NATO and EU member states — just to ‘test’ NATO’s resolve,” he warned.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Austrian Foreign Ministry earlier expressed willingness to host and mediate peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.