Ukraine trip in focus

Meinl-Reisinger reacts to Kickl: “Absurd”

Neo-Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) with her Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev on Friday.(Bild: APA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

After her first major trip abroad, which took her to Ukraine, the new Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger faced fierce criticism from the Freedom Party. And now counters via a spokesperson in the "Krone" newspaper: "Kickl's understanding of neutrality is absurd."  

Kickl had described the new Foreign Minister as a "NATO envoy" following her visit to Volodymyr Selenskyj.

His party colleague Petra Steger went one step further: "How far does she want to trample on our neutrality? This Foreign Minister is finally burying Austria's perpetual neutrality," she ranted.

(Bild: Screenshot/X.com)

"Kickl's understanding of neutrality is completely absurd"
On her way back to Austria from Ukraine, the Minister announced via a spokesperson: "Anyone who supports Ukraine in its fight for freedom secures peace and strengthens security in Austria. Kickl's understanding of neutrality is completely absurd and does not correspond at all to what is written in the Austrian constitution," it said.

Neo-Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) with her Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev on Friday(Bild: APA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj in Kiev - her first trip abroad is causing horror among the FPÖ.(Bild: APA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

And the spokesperson added: "It is clear to everyone that the trip to Kiev is about European security and thus Austria's very own interests."

Meinl-Reisinger assures: "Austria will continue to support Ukraine"
During her visit abroad, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized - the "Krone" was there - that Austria would continue to support Ukraine. In political, economic and humanitarian terms. We would remain militarily neutral, but not politically. This had also previously been discussed with Defense Minister Tanner.