Ukraine will receive additional aid and support of various kinds, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Van der Bellen arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday morning, along with Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler, Labour Minister Martin Kocher, and representatives of various aid organisations.
After visiting aid projects that included Austrian participation, Van der Bellen met with Zelenskyy to discuss further support ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for Friday.
“Austria is a neutral country. However, military neutrality does not mean that we are value-neutral. If one state in Europe invades another, we will never be indifferent,” said Van der Bellen.
“We, as Austrians will continue to support the Ukrainian people with aid deliveries of various kinds. I would like to assure you of that herewith,” he added. The solidarity of Austria and the European Union with Ukraine would “not be a purely idealistic, but a tangible, visible and effective one” for the people in the country.
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the Austrian government supported Ukraine with €570 million of humanitarian aid between 24 January and 20 November 2022.
During his visit on Wednesday, Van der Bellen said that a total of €56 million was collected through donations through the donation drive by citizens, known as the ‘Neighbour in need’.
Last year, Austria also sent Ukraine “non-lethal” army equipment such as protective helmets from army stocks and flak jackets, Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner said, Wiener Zeitung reported.
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for Austria’s humanitarian aid. Nevertheless, he added that his country might need other products, such as drone defence. In addition, Austria could assist in demining. However, Van der Bellen said he did not think that the participation of the Austrian Armed Forces in demining a war zone was compatible with neutrality, APA reported.
“We will need even more solidarity, even more unity, even more determination in the face of future challenges,” Van der Bellen stated during the press conference. “Our common will to live in peace and freedom is stronger than any aggression and will remain stronger than any aggression.”
The solidarity visit was criticised by the leader of Austria’s right-wing FPÖ Herbert Kickl, who claimed that Van der Bellen would ignore Austria’s “enshrined perpetual neutrality” and that he would bring about “a total break with Austria’s decades-long foreign policy tradition.”
On Monday, Austria’s Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner and Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky met in Budapest, emphasising their close cooperation regarding the war in Ukraine. Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that Hungary agreed with neutral Austria on not sending weapons to Ukraine.
(Chiara Swaton | EURACTIV.de)
Source: euractiv.com
