Concessions from Putin?

Austria's Chancellor Nehammer limits confidence directly after a phone call

Created: 05/27/2022, 19:39

By: Yasina Hipp

After the phone call with Kremlin boss Putin, Karl Nehammer is confident and says he felt that Putin was accommodating in two respects.

Vienna/Moscow – the two heads of state from Russia and Austria apparently spoke to each other for 45 minutes.

Karl Nehammer describes the phone call afterwards as "very intense and very serious".

The two men spoke about the current grain crisis and the Russian treatment of prisoners in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

On both points, Nehammer reports that Putin has made concessions.

For example, the head of the Kremlin has promised to negotiate again with Kyiv about the possible exchange of prisoners.

In addition, the International Red Cross should have access to the prisoners of war, Putin has assured.

And with a view to grain exports, the Kremlin boss has also shown himself to be flexible.

Ukraine war: Putin denies blame for grain crisis

Grain cannot be exported from Ukraine at the moment because the Russian Navy is blocking the Ukrainian seaports necessary for export.

The lack of grain is causing a global food crisis.

Putin recently offered to allow seed and food exports again, provided the West lifts its sanctions against Russia.

After the phone call, Austria's Chancellor Nehammer reported somewhat different tones from the Kremlin: "Putin has given signals that he is quite prepared to allow exports via the seaports".

However, the ports would first have to be cleared of laid mines, which the Russian attackers should not exploit, emphasizes Nehammer.

However, the Austrian chancellor also limits the confidence directly: "The real willingness is only shown when

Putin, on the other hand, seems to be primarily concerned after the phone call with rejecting accusations from the West.

The Kremlin explains: "Vladimir Putin has stressed that attempts to blame Russia for the difficulties in supplying agricultural products to world markets are unfounded." Rather, the "anti-Russian sanctions of the USA and the European Union" are responsible for the food crisis and the rising prices.

Ukraine war: Nehammer also spoke to Erdogan

Before the phone call with Putin, Chancellor Nehammer also spoke to Turkish President Erdogan.

According to Nehammer, Erdogan wants to approach both warring parties in the next few days.

In this way he wants to restart the negotiation process initiated by the Turkish side.

With both talks, Nehammer is pursuing an “active policy of neutrality” in the tradition of his country in order to remain in dialogue with all parties to the conflict.