Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held telephone talks Sunday with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehamer before his trip to Moscow to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“Steps to improve Turkish-Austrian relations and regional issues, including the Russian-Ukrainian war, were discussed during the talks. “President Erdogan expressed satisfaction with the recent high-level contacts between Turkey and Austria and said Turkey continues to do everything possible to establish peace between Russia and Ukraine,” reporters from the Turkish president’s office told reporters.
Erdogan told the Austrian chancellor that Ankara and Vienna could boost cooperation in natural gas supplies. “President Erdogan reiterated his expectations regarding the resumption of the established mechanisms of Turkey-EU relations, concrete progress in the visa liberalization process, the opening of new chapters, and the urgent start of negotiations to renew the customs union. President Erdogan noted that the supply of energy resources from the Caspian Basin and the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe through Turkey is strategic.
He also noted that at this stage, Turkey can expand its cooperation with Austria, which is an important center for the distribution of natural gas in Europe, “the Turkish president’s office said.
The first European leader will meet with Putin after the start of the war
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nechamer announced today that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow, world agencies reported.
Nehmer will become the first European leader to meet with Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24.
The Austrian Chancellor told reporters in Vienna. Yesterday he became another European leader who visited Kyiv and was received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Nehmer has set himself the goal of promoting dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. At his meeting with Putin, he will also raise the issue of Russian war crimes, the Austrian national news agency APA notes.
Nehmer said he would visit Moscow on his initiative, after consulting with EU leaders. He also informed Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Austria, a member of the European Union, has backed its sanctions against Russia, although it has so far refused to support disruption to Russia’s gas supplies. At the same time, it is a neutral country and not part of NATO, the Associated Press notes.
After the start of the war, Austria delivered aid to Ukraine, including 10,000 helmets and 9,000 bulletproof vests for civilians, according to the DPA.
