“Let’s let the sanctions work. We need strategic patience and nerves of steel.” With the sanctions so far, the EU has already imposed the strongest package ever. It is illusory to believe that Russia will give in overnight: “I am convinced that the international economic isolation is having a stronger effect every week and that the Russian President (Putin’s note) will eventually see.” It is necessary, “Space for diplomacy”. But there is currently no such thing on either side.
“This is not a conflict that will be over quickly.” The danger of using nuclear weapons is greater than ever before. Schallenberg: “We must do everything we can to ensure that the war does not spread further.” Accordingly, he continues to speak out against no-fly zones and against direct intervention in the war. He also stressed that the people of Russia should not be equated with Putin’s henchmen. That is why Austria spoke out against a visa ban for Russians.
“This is an attempt at blackmail”
Schallenberg emphasized that Austria was prepared for anything, especially in the face of an impending shortage of gas supplies, especially in winter. Dependence on Russian gas has been reduced from 80 to 50 percent. According to the Foreign Minister, Putin recently made a clear connection between gas supplies and sanctions. “It’s an attempt at blackmail,” said Schallenberg, who doesn’t think much of calls for the sanctions to be lifted. “Once you give in to a blackmailer, he’ll try again.”
It is “naive wishful thinking” that without sanctions the gas would flow, food exports could be carried out and there would be no humanitarian crises. You are dealing with an opponent who deliberately relies on deep fakes and disinformation. There have never been sanctions on grain and fertilizers, emphasized the Foreign Minister.
Schallenberg: Caught up in reality
Schallenberg admits that the effects of the Ukraine war also bring cuts to the Austrian population due to energy shortages and the associated rise in prices. But he was more optimistic than some politicians in Germany. The government is trying to “take massive countermeasures”. The pandemic has already shown that “we are more flexible and resilient than we thought we were capable of”.
In any case, experts expect several difficult winters. Schallenberg also expects the Ukraine war to last longer and have corresponding global repercussions. “I think the last 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall have been exceptional. We thought we were entering a new era. Reality has now caught up with us,” says Schallenberg. Countries like Russia and China feel challenged by the western system. Only a minority of the UNO states have “our social model”, but it is “worth fighting for”. A regime change in Russia, on the other hand, is “not our goal”.