Austrian Chancellor Nehammer has arrived in Russia for a meeting with President Putin. According to Austrian media, he flew with a private plane via Turkey to the Russian capital last night. A direct flight was not possible due to European sanctions.
Nehammer is the first Western head of government to meet Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine. Their meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Putin does have regular contact with Western leaders, including French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz, but that is only by telephone.
Nehammer said before leaving that he is not naive and that he realizes “miracles probably won’t happen”. “But you must try everything to end the war.” He wants to discuss options for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors, among other things.
According to Nehammer, the trip has been coordinated with Scholz, European Commission President von der Leyen and Turkish President Erdogan. President Zelensky of Ukraine would also have been informed. Nehammer was still with Zelensky in Kiev on Saturday.
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