Austrian Prime Minister: "Talks with Putin Were Difficult"... Russia Says "No Halt to Military Operation"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, the first Western leader to visit Russia since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin but reportedly failed to find a breakthrough for peace negotiations. On the contrary, Russia is increasing pressure on the West and Ukraine by continuing its military operations.

According to CNN on the 11th (local time), Chancellor Nehammer said in a statement after his face-to-face meeting with President Putin, "The conversation with President Putin was very direct and honest, and it was a difficult discussion," adding, "It was not a friendly visit." The meeting was held privately at Novo-Ogaryovo, President Putin's residence on the outskirts of Moscow. The talks reportedly lasted about 75 minutes.

Chancellor Nehammer explained, "I could not get an optimistic impression from the talks in Moscow," and added, "A large-scale attack on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine is being prepared." He continued, "The most important message to President Putin was that the war must end immediately because both sides will be losers," emphasizing, "I hope this meeting will help end the war and improve conditions for civilians suffering hardships."

The Russian side also drew a line, stating there would be no halt to military operations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian state media Rossiya-24, "After realizing that Ukraine had no intention to respond, a decision was made not to suspend military operations until a complete agreement is reached in future negotiations," stressing, "There will be no suspension of military operations for peace talks."

According to AFP, the Russian military is preparing a large-scale offensive centered on the Donbas region, and the southern Ukrainian strategic city of Mariupol is reportedly on the brink of collapse.

Within Austria, there is criticism that this visit will strengthen Putin's position. Ernst Giegitsch, spokesperson for the Green Party, tweeted, "Visiting President Putin is unacceptable," pointing out, "This is not an agreed negotiation roadmap, so it is unrelated to diplomacy, and President Putin will use this to promote himself."

A political science professor at the University of Salzburg in Austria also strongly criticized on Twitter, saying, "Austria has often played the role of Russia's 'useful fool' in the past," and added, "I hope there is more to President Putin's visit than what is apparent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.