Russia's aggressive war threatens security in Europe most – Austrian Foreign Ministry
The greatest immediate threat to security in Europe has come from Russia's aggressive war, and therefore the EU’s unity and cohesion on this issue have been very important.
Source: Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg during a joint press conference with his Slovak counterpart in Vienna on Wednesday, 22 November; Ukrinform news agency
Quote from Schallenberg: "Undoubtedly, we want peace. Everyone wants peace. And people in Ukraine want it the most. But everything lies in the hands of only one person, namely Russian President Vladimir Putin. He can end the war tomorrow. If he does it, the war will end. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine simply ceases to exist. And then Slovakia may suddenly get a different neighbour."
Details: The minister also emphasised that Austria's position is "no negotiations regarding Ukraine without Ukraine".
Schallenberg noted that the greatest immediate threat to security in the European continent comes from Russia's aggressive war, and therefore the EU’s unity and cohesion on this issue is very important. "The unity and cohesion of the European Union on this issue has been our greatest achievement, our greatest asset. And I believe that we are doing everything right and should work to ensure that we preserve this unity and cohesion in the future", he said.
The Austrian minister said it is also necessary to realise that "we are being watched at the international level, and that our position as a Western world depends very much on our behaviour in this matter".
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