Austria has struggled to define its official state neutrality since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the moment, it continues to import Russian gas at maximum capacity, a key source of profit for Moscow.
Austria isn't being neutral, it's choosing to profit from Russia's war. Russia is selling its gas cheaply and as long as Austria keeps its pretence of 'neutrality' it can benefit from these low prices.
India's Hindu supremacist dictator uses a phrase that translates to "Profit from someone else's misery" (yes, he's this selfish & inhumane) aka 'Aapada mein avsar'. The thought process is both uncivilised and cruel. This is the same thought process guiding Austria today.
Austria is aware that Russia funnels energy revenue into its war on Ukraine, and by choosing to benefit from low gas prices it is choosing to sponsor Russia's war machine.
Austria has been cultivating strong political and economic ties with tbe former USSR and later with Russia. This may have been for the benefit of buying cheap energy for the country, but it was also not exactly to the personal disadvantage of a few dozens Austrian entrepreneurs and the many politicians involved over the years. The Swiss paper NZZ recently published a long read about that which provides a first good overview of Russia-Austria relations: Dancing with Putin: Why Austria is still so close to the Kremlin
Done, but please feel free to do it yourself whenever you think it is helpful for your community (and thanks for pointing me to this community, I didn’t know it).
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