Austrian Authorities Support New Sanctions Against Russia Following Revealing of Military Atrocities in Bucha, But Reject Immediate Embargo on Russian Energy.

Writes about this ORF, reports "

Finance Minister Magnus Brunner said that Austria is 100 percent on Germany's side in this matter.. Earlier, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck also reiterated his opposition to an immediate energy embargo..

According to Brunner, sanctions only make sense if they don't affect you more than the target..

Brunner said that Austria, like Germany, is heavily dependent on Russian gas and the medium-term goal is to become more independent.. " Instead, he proposed expanding the list of sanctioned individuals and organizations..

In view of the atrocities of the war, the federal government called for clarification and further sanctions against Russia..

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg also opposed the embargo on Russian gas. He said he was "

" Those who did this must be held accountable.. Austria is one of the states that also presented the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court in The Hague,"

Schallenberg expects further sanctions against Russia in the near future. " Apart from the gas embargo, there are “enough other options where we can turn the sanctions screw,” he said..

Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler called the events in Bucha " Kogler believes that further sanctions against Russia may include restrictions on the export and import of technology for Russia.

Environment and Energy Minister Leonor Gewessler expressed skepticism about the complete phase-out of gas from Russia, as the Baltic states have announced, for example..

According to her, Austria " The share is 80% and in the past it has not decreased, but actually increased. The initial situation is also difficult because Austria does not have access to the sea, for example, to obtain liquefied natural gas.