Austria's Vice-Chancellor proposes to end sanctions against Russia
In an interview with Austrian newspaper Oesterreich, the Vice-Chancellor of Austria and the leader of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache called for an end to the European Union's sanctions against Russia.
"The sanctions have harmed the Austrian economy. It is high time to put an end to these exasperating sanctions and normalize political and economic relations with Russia," Strache said.
Strache's party is a junior coalition partner to Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's conservatives. Strache has repeatedly stated he would not support EU sanctions against Moscow for supporting the militants in the Donbas.
On June 5, Vladimir Putin will come to Vienna where he will meet with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen. Strache claimed that he would also meet with the Russian leader. "I will also personally meet with President Putin, and I look forward to sharing ideas," he said.