Zelenskyy Gains Austrian Support for Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Secures Non-Military Support from Austria Amid Ongoing Conflict During a visit to Austria, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy successfully secured pledges of non-military assistance from the nation on Monday. This visit comes just before Zelenskyy is anticipated to advocate for increased military support from U.S. President Donald Trump as Ukraine continues its fight against Russian aggression. This marked Zelenskyy's first trip to Austria since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Following discussions with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker, agreements were reached covering essential areas such as de-mining, energy, and cybersecurity, which Zelenskyy shared via his Telegram account. As part of his itinerary, Zelenskyy is also set to attend the G7 summit in Canada, where discussions will likely include a defense package Ukraine seeks to purchase from the United States. “We will discuss it with him,” Zelenskyy stated, expressing confidence in his opportunity to meet with Trump. In the joint press conference, President Van der Bellen highlighted Austria's long-standing neutrality in military issues, emphasizing that while politically neutral, Austria supports Ukraine in its stand against Russia. This includes the country’s backing of European Union sanctions aimed at Moscow. The Austrian leader, although holding a primarily ceremonial role, condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine, urging for “an end to this illegal war” and a move towards “serious and honest negotiations.” He reaffirmed Austria's commitment to supporting EU sanctions and contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts post-conflict. However, a quick resolution to the ongoing war appears unlikely. Earlier on the same day, Ukraine's air force disclosed that Russia launched 138 drones toward the country, notably targeting the Donetsk region. Of these drones, 125 were either intercepted or jammed, with 10 successfully hitting their targets and eight causing damage from falling debris. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to President Van der Bellen and Austria for their “continuous support of Ukraine’s just position in its fight for independence.” In discussions touching on potential prisoner exchanges with Russia, he criticized a previous suggestion from Russian negotiators to swap Ukrainian children for captured soldiers, calling it “madness.” He added, “This is beyond comprehension, beyond international law, and, frankly, in line with (Russia's) usual behavior.” Austria is historically noted for its neutrality, a policy established in 1955 following World War II. Despite its neutral stance, the nation has faced scrutiny for its connections to Moscow since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war. Following its post-war declaration of neutrality, Austria aimed to act as a mediator between East and West, fostering relationships with Moscow that persisted through the Cold War era. While condemning Russia’s invasion, the Austrian government has emphasized the importance of diplomatic relations and has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, though it has refrained from supplying weapons. In an earlier instance, former Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the first EU leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the war began, traveling to Moscow in April 2022 in a bid to encourage an end to the hostilities. For continuing updates on the situation in Ukraine, visit AP News.