Embargoing gas deliveries from Russia would hurt some European Union members far worse than it would hurt Moscow, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in an interview after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While siding with Ukraine and wanting more sanctions against Moscow, Nehammer said he was not alone in opposing Kiev’s demands to halt Russian gas imports.
“Austria is not alone with this argument against the gas embargo,” Nehammer told CNN on Wednesday, saying Germany, Hungary “and other member states of the EU” backed his position as well. While Vienna “stands strong” with other EU members when it comes to sanctioning Moscow, “sanctions must hurt Russia more than the EU,” he added.
The US outlet pressed him about the gas embargo because that was one of the major demands by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Nehammer met with before flying to Moscow to meet with Putin – the first EU leader to do so since February 24, when Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
The negotiations were not a “friendly visit,” Nehammer told reporters afterward. There was no joint press conference or mutual statement, or even photos or video materials provided.