Selenskij arrives in the rain with van der Bellen in the Hofburg – Diepresse.com
The Ukrainian President, Wolodymyr Selenskij, has arrived in the Hofburg with Alexander van der Bellen. Later he meets Chancellor Christian Stocker, Vice Andreas Babler and business operators. Two declarations of intent between Austria and Ukraine are to be signed.
The car column with Wolodymyr Selenskij arrived three minutes early in front of the Hofburg in Vienna. The Ukrainian President and his wife Olena were expected at their Austrian counter parts, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife, Doris Schmidauer. The Ukrainians had landed at the airport around an hour and a half, where Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (Neos) picked them up.
For security reasons, the police had imposed a ban on the Ballhausplatz, and the trains drove through the nearby Herrengasse underground station. It is the first visit to Selenskij in Vienna since Russia escalated his attack on Ukraine in February 2022. The largest Austrian opposition party, which FPÖ, scandalized the meeting in advance: one would again pay homage to the head of a war -leading state and thus once more disregarded Austria’s neutrality.
« /> The accredited journalists had this look at the historical visit. Christian Ultsch
Red carpet in the rain
The presidential office had rolled out a red carpet that Selenskij and van der Bellen scraped under an umbrella. As usual, the Austrian in a suit with a tie, the Ukrainian in black, a thick shirt over the T-shirt.
It is a short visit that Selenskij completes. The 47-year-old is expected at the G7 summit in Canada. Before that, however, there are a few appointments: a delegation discussion of the Foreign Minister, the Ukrainian Andrij Sibyha had also traveled with Selenskij. Then a meal, to which several ministers, Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) and business operators are invited. The Social Democrat had known in advance that he wanted to propose Selenskij to hold possible peace talks with Russia in Vienna.
There should be a press conference at 3 p.m., then a conversation with Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). During his visit, Selenskij also meets Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmansdorfer (ÖVP), Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) and the government coordinator for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Wolfgang Anzengruber.
Two explanations and summit of the first ladies and gentlemen
This also fits one of the two declarations of intent that should be signed in Vienna on Monday: it revolves around the reconstruction of Ukraine, i.e. possible economic cooperation. The second is intended to ensure Austrian support in the return of children from Russia to the Ukrainians.
When Wolodymyr Selenskij meets with US President Donald Trump in Canada, his wife, Olena Selenska, will still be in Vienna. She takes part in a meeting of the first ladies and gentlemen in the Hofburg on Wednesday. Suzanne Innes-Stubb, wife of the Finnish President, Aleš Musar, husband of the Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, and Lucrecia Peinando, the first Lady Guatemalas, also promised her.
The host is Doris Schmidauer. The first ladies and gentlemen Summit has been taking place on the initiative of Selenska since 2021, in Kiev and as an online event. Schmidauer sent a video message at such a meeting in September 2014.
(Cu/zot)
