Austrian Chancellor Says Visit Was Not Friendly, Held Tough Talks with Putin

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated after negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow that the conversation was very tough, direct, and open. This information is reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Austrian press agency.

Nehammer emphasized that his most important message to Putin was that the war in Ukraine must end, as there are only losers on both sides of the conflict. The Chancellor declared that this was not a friendly visit, and he made it clear during the talks that sanctions against Russia would remain in place and be tightened.

The meeting between the Russian president and the Austrian Chancellor lasted about an hour and a half. Nehammer is the first European leader to visit Russia since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Yesterday, Nehammer visited Kyiv, where he held discussions with Ukrainian authorities.