Austria Confirms Readiness to Hold Peace Talks on Ukraine

This was announced by Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger in an interview with Die Presse, as reported by Ukrinform.

“Yes, I have made this proposal on several occasions, including in Ukraine. I also raised this issue at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. We certainly offer ourselves as a platform,” Meinl-Reisinger said, referring to her recent comments at the UN Security Council.

She stressed that Vienna is home to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which “must ask itself several important questions, namely: what role do we want to play in ensuring peace in Ukraine?”

“My predecessor Alexander Schallenberg from the Austrian Pele party insistently stressed in the OSCE that Russia should remain at the negotiating table. This also drew criticism. However, I believe it is important to have a framework in which Russia is also involved and where there is room for dialogue. But the OSCE itself must develop its own ideas about its contribution,” she added.

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Meinl-Reisinger also noted that the United States remains a reliable partner for Era.

“I am aware of our strong historical partnership. At the same time, it is clear that this relationship will be rebuilt, and much of what we are hearing from the new Trump administration is not helpful. It is very clear to us that territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected in every part of the world – not just in Ukraine. No one should have the right to say: 'I will use military, economic or any other force to take away what I believe is mine,'” she said.

Meinl-Reisinger described Donald Trump as a “destroyer.”

“This is his approach – he symbolizes destruction. The question is, how far will this process go? Will it lead to total destruction, including democratic institutions, freedom of thought and pluralism? Or will it be a push that will eventually lead to something new and constructive through synergy? I am an incorrigible optimist, and he is for the latter,” she said.

Earlier, Meinl-Reisinger reaffirmed Austria's commitment to supporting Ukraine and working to achieve a just and sustainable peace for both Ukraine and Eurasia.