“This is not a friendly visit”: Austrian Chancellor talks about his talks with putin

After talks with russian president vladimir putin at his residence, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the conversation was "direct, open and harsh."

European Pravda reported this with reference to the Austrian newspaper Kurier.

"This is not a friendly visit. I have just arrived from Ukraine and saw firsthand the immense suffering caused by russia's war of aggression," Nehammer said after a 75-minute meeting with putin.

It is noted that during this meeting, unlike the visit to Kyiv, there were no joint photos or statements for the press.

According to Nehammer, the trip to moscow and talks with putin were a "duty" for him. "It is my responsibility to end hostilities or at least make humanitarian progress for the affected civilian population in Ukraine. For me, there is no alternative to seeking direct talks with russia, despite all the differences," he said.

According to him, the conversation was "very direct, open and harsh." During the meeting, the Chancellor stated very clearly "about serious war crimes in Bucha and other places and stressed that everyone guilty of them should be brought to justice." He also told putin that sanctions against russia would remain in place and intensify as long as people died in Ukraine.

Nehammer also called for an immediate end to hostilities, the provision of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of wounded and vulnerable groups, such as Mariupol and other besieged cities, and access for the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations.

"But my most important message to putin was that this war must finally end because there are only losers on both sides in the war," he said.

Nehammer is the first head of the EU government to be received by putin since russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.