Austria: Getting rid of dependence on Russia takes time and money

According to Fars News Agency’s International Group, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Tuesday that our position is in line with the European Union’s position on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“We must strongly support Ukraine and send a message to Russia that Ukraine is part of Europe,” he told Al Jazeera.

“We are currently working with our European partners to consider a new package of sanctions against Russia,” Schallenberg added.

“We have imposed five rounds of sanctions on Russia so far and are now considering a sixth package of sanctions against Moscow,” the Austrian foreign minister said.

“Getting out of dependence on Russia for energy takes a long time and a lot of money, but our goal is clear and we want to get rid of dependence on Russian gas,” he acknowledged.

“Sweden and Finland’s joining NATO is important because it is against Putin’s wishes, but Austria has no intention of joining NATO and we will remain a neutral country,” Schallenberg said.

“We have very different geographical conditions,” he said earlier, referring to Sweden and Finland’s bid to join NATO. “We also have very different histories, and I believe these issues need to be addressed.”

The remarks came as Sweden and Finland, which, like Austria, took a neutral stance and refused to join military blocs such as NATO, formally applied to join NATO this week, although the process of joining NATO There is strong opposition from Turkey.

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