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Chancellor Kurz, experts say, could mediate the Ze-Putin negotiations. Photo: Der Standard
From September 15 to 16, Zelensky, for the first time since the beginning of the quarantine, made an official visit abroad, to Austria.
There he met with the country’s leaders.
The purpose of the visit in expert circles is called image and economic motives. There are also rumors that Austria is being seen as a “replacement” for Minsk as a platform for negotiations on the Donbass. Although Ze denies that this transfer is until the end of the quarantine.
“Strana” was trying to find out why Ze went to the country where Poroshenko advised Ukrainians to go “for coffee” without a visa, and what the results of the trip were.
Official meetings and secret meeting rumors
Zelensky in Vienna met with President Alexander Van der Bellen, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Speaker of Parliament Wolfgang Sobotka, and also attended an economic forum.
The meetings were held with masks even in the street and without shaking hands, they greeted them with obeisances.
And in the evening, Ze was invited to a local tavern, where he was treated to a local seasonal wine called “Storm”.
In a meeting with the Austrians, he asked to invest in Ukraine and asked to change the name of one of the squares in the Austrian capital in honor of our country.
After meeting with Ze, Kurz said that the Austrian authorities are ready to become mediators between Ukraine and Russia and provide platforms for negotiations on an agreement in the Donbass.
According to him, Austria has always promoted dialogue and can use its good relations with the West and East in the interests of both parties.
“We are very familiar with this issue. If there is an opportunity to contribute, we are always ready. The decision, of course, depends on the Ukrainian and Russian sides,” Kurz said.
At the same time, Zelensky himself pointed out that now the issue of transferring the platform for negotiations from Minsk is not on the agenda. At least until the end of the coronavirus epidemic (now the meetings are still held online).
“The visit to Austria was scheduled for June of this year. This is one of those visits in which the president himself presents the country and the changes in it in the political and business platforms of Europe. What are the conditions of the game? What guarantees? What are the key problems in relationships at all levels? ” “, – a source” Strana “in the Office of the President says about the purpose of the visit.
“Firstly, Zelensky needed a visit to a European country for his image, and secondly, perhaps there really was an opportunity to transfer the negotiating format on Donbass to another country,” political analyst Ruslan Bortnik told “Strana” .
Furthermore, on the eve of the meeting, there were rumors that Zelensky wanted to secretly meet in Vienna with several Ukrainian businessmen living in Austria (in particular, with Dmitry Firtash), as well as allegedly some emissaries from Russia (by the way, rumors about meetings with Russians walked during Zelensky’s trip to Oman).
However, Strana’s source in the President’s Office categorically denies any secret meeting in Vienna.
“About some secret meetings, complete nonsense. There are too many eyes to organize it,” says the source.
After Ze’s visit, Vienna pledged a million euros in aid to Donbass.
According to Austrian media, the tranche was allocated in addition to the seven million euros previously sent to Kiev to restore the war-torn Donbass.
Der Standard notes that apparently this million was the only real result of Ze’s trip to Austria. They did not agree on anything else after the visit.
During a meeting with Zelensky, Kurz spoke about the conflict in eastern Ukraine and bilateral economic relations.
What kind of relationship was meant is not explained, the newspaper writes, but the Ukrainian president praised Austria for its position on European sanctions against Russia and the non-recognition of the “annexation of Crimea.” In response, Kurz promised that his country would expand humanitarian involvement in Ukraine.
“Austria has already allocated seven million for aid to eastern Ukraine and plans to allocate another million,” the foreign minister said.
Zelensky also campaigned for Austrians to invest in Ukraine, in particular, concessions will be given to Black Sea ports, and called for the construction of a broad gauge railway between Ukraine and Vienna.
“It is not clear how to gather all the negotiators on the Donbass in Vienna”
At the meeting, Kurz and Ze mentioned the possible replacement of Minsk by Vienna in the negotiations on the Donbass due to the unrest in Belarus.
“During the press conference, Kurz addressed Zelenskyy and said that Vienna is ready to become a new platform for negotiations to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. How realistic it is, it is difficult to say, depends on many factors ( including the Russian side’s position), while these are just discussions. Also, during a pandemic, the meetings will likely take place online, “Austrian journalist Josef Bozenhart told Strana.
Bortnik does not exclude that Austria, which is a neutral country (not a member of NATO), could become a new negotiating platform in case of further destabilization in Belarus. But there are several “buts”.
“First, how to bring together in Vienna all participants in the negotiations, including those who will come from Donetsk and Lugansk, how to ensure that they enter Austrian territory (passports, visas, immunity). Second, Russia owes the call” DPR / LPR “agreed with this option. And so far it does not seem that this is possible, especially in the context of the general political stalemate in the implementation of the Minsk talks,” Bortnik told Strana.
Vienna is not only claiming the role of a new negotiating platform: they speak of Finland, Sweden, Kazakhstan. Everyone plays in the hands of intermediaries. As the Belarusian experience shows, from an economic and political point of view, this can be beneficial.
At the same time, on Bankova Street, Strana was denied information that the purpose of the visit to Austria was an attempt to transfer the negotiations from Minsk to Vienna. Although they admit that in principle Ze thinks of the “Vienna format”.
“This visit is not related to attempts to find a new platform for the Minsk format. Although Vienna is ideal for this, as a neutral and comfortable country. And it would be perfectly perceived by both us and the opposing side. Furthermore, Given the growing negativity that now follows from Minsk to our leadership, we really need to think of an alternative site, “a source from the Office of the President told us.
The Austrians defended the Nord Stream 2
One of the topics of discussion was Nord Stream 2. Furthermore, Zelensky himself raised this question and it is not clear why. Because Austria’s position on this issue is well known. Vienna believes that Europe needs this project.
Therefore, when Zelenskiy offered to take a fresh look at the gas pipeline project “from the Ukrainian side,” there was no positive reaction from Austrian leaders to such a proposal.
President Alexander van der Bellen made it clear that Austria opposes the suspension of construction and is not going to link this economic project with the “Navalny case”.
Prime Minister Kurtz said the same.
For us in Austria, Nord Stream 2 is an economic project, still a positive project, since we believe that the greater the diversification, the better when we can use different routes to obtain or transport energy to Europe “, – said the head of government.
One of the businessmen with close ties to Austria believes that bringing up Nord Stream 2 in general was initially a failed idea for Zelensky.
“Vienna’s position is well known. Why speak about it publicly? Come up against a resounding refusal? I think this is a great failure in preparing for the visit,” said the businessman.
However, the Office of the President does not think so.
“The Austrians have invested in this project. And we have to understand their logic, given the significant risks of this project for Europe. The president is certainly capable of asking direct questions and does so. Because our further tactics depend on the answers.” explains Strana’s source. in Bankova.
In general, political scientist Bortnik does not consider Zelensky’s visit to Austria to be particularly successful.
Especially in the context of Austrian President van der Bellen’s statement on Nord Stream. Although he is not a key figure in the Austrian political system, he is its eldest, Doyen, as they say in the diplomatic corps, a person whose opinion is heard and a person who expresses the opinion of the political elites, “Bortnik believes.
