Austria’s chancellor suggests Vienna as key venue for Ukraine peace talks

Austria’s newly appointed Chancellor, Christian Stocker, has emphasised that Vienna remains a favourable location for future international negotiations, including the potential for peace talks surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In a recent interview with Euractiv, Stocker outlined Austria's role within the EU's mutual assistance clause, asserting that the country is a reliable Western partner within the EU framework, from which it benefits, Caliber.Az reports. 

He further explained that the clause implies France’s nuclear umbrella would also extend protection to Austria in the event of an attack. 

“If such a scenario were realistic, NATO would already be obsolete,” Stocker noted, suggesting that an alternative European nuclear defence system could emerge.

France has recently signaled its willingness to expand its nuclear protection to form a broader European umbrella. However, Stocker warned that such an initiative would likely take years, if not decades, to fully implement. 

“Anything that increases security in Europe is positive,” he added. 

On the issue of the Ukraine war, Stocker reiterated his commitment to bringing peace talks to Vienna. However, Ukraine has expressed skepticism about Austria’s claim to neutrality, particularly regarding its position on Russia. Despite this, Stocker remains hopeful that Vienna could become a key venue for diplomatic negotiations.

Stocker also reaffirmed Austria’s stance as one of Europe’s few remaining neutral states, rejecting calls for a more robust alignment against Russia. While some critics argue that Austria is benefiting from the security investments of its EU partners, Stocker insisted that Austria’s neutrality remains vital. 

“Joining NATO is not on the table for Austria,” Stocker, leader of the centre-right Austrian People’s Party, said.

Though Stocker has extensive experience in local politics, he only became a national MP in 2019, with limited experience in foreign or military affairs. Experts suggest that his approach to security will likely continue Austria’s long-standing policy of minimising defence spending while subtly integrating into Western military structures.

By Naila Huseynova