Austrian FM pledges additional financial funds for Ukraine while visiting Odesa

Austria has decided to provide Ukraine with additional financial funds as part of its humanitarian support.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger confirmed the development during her visit to the Ukrainian coastal city of Odesa, Caliber.Az reports citing the Austrian media outlet ORF.

During her trip to southern Ukraine on August 20, the Austrian FM announced that the government would allocate an additional €2 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and join the civil protection shelters coalition.

“Austria stands firmly at Ukraine’s side and will continue to support the people of Ukraine until a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace is achieved,” the foreign minister emphasised at a press conference with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.

Austria, she stressed, believes in Ukraine’s European future and will make concrete contributions to its reconstruction in the humanitarian, economic, and security fields.

Meinl-Reisinger also called for a ceasefire, saying that only such a step could serve as the “basis” for serious negotiations. In addition, she spoke in favour of rapid EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

The Austrian foreign minister, who was accompanied in Odesa by Wolfgang Anzengruber, the government’s coordinator for Ukraine’s economic reconstruction, as well as numerous Austrian business representatives, highlighted the major opportunities that Ukraine’s rebuilding will bring.

She also offered Vienna as a venue for hosting a large-scale reconstruction conference.

By Nazrin Sadigova