Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg urged the West to continue talks with Russia
The West must continue to talk to Russia, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, noting that his country was in contact with the Russian side.
“The West must continue to talk to Russia, and so must the US administration. We have a global responsibility. Russia has not disappeared from the map. Russia is the EU’s largest geographical neighbour and the largest nuclear power on our planet. Moscow sits at the table in numerous international organizations and is, for example, an important player in the realization of global climate and environmental goals,” Schallenberg told the German newspaper Welt.
At the same time, he said, a “clear statement” is needed to “hold political leaders accountable for war crimes” and “aggression”.
“But the West must also continue to talk to Russia and use international forums such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations (UN) to state its position directly in a direct exchange of views,” the minister explained.
Asked by the newspaper whether Austria maintains unofficial channels of communication with the Russian government, Schallenberg replied in the affirmative, noting that it is important.
However, he also noted that it would be difficult for him to shake hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, but he would do so. “It would be very difficult for me. But I cannot choose my interlocutors. In that respect, I would probably observe the minimum requirements of diplomatic etiquette and perhaps shake Minister Lavrov’s hand briefly. But no more than that,” the Foreign Minister explained.
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