Ukraine's MFA on Austria's Statements: Calls for Dialogue with Russia Increase Kremlin's Sense of Impunity

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has reacted to the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg, that it is important for the West to maintain a sense of proportion in relations with Russia.

"Calls to continue the dialogue with Russia, to respect its history and culture increase the Kremlin's sense of impunity. They perceive it exclusively as an invitation to continue the genocide of Ukrainians," wrote Oleh Nikolenko, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his Facebook page.

At the same time, he points out that Ukraine appreciates cooperation with Austria and is grateful for the support in the UN and the EU.

"To develop the dialogue, we are waiting for the visit of the Austrian Minister to Ukraine. In particular, we invite the head of Austrian diplomacy to visit Dnipro. He will have an opportunity to repeat his point about a sense of proportion in front of the relatives of the forty-four people who died after Russian missile strike on a residential building. Or with those whose loved ones have not yet been found under the rubble," Nikolenko wrote.

Schallenberg has pleaded for maintaining a sense of proportion towards Moscow about the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

"We must not overshoot the mark, for example by introducing a visa ban for 144 million Russians," said Schallenberg on Monday.