Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl Reisinger has expressed support for using frozen Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine. She also stated that Austria’s neutrality does not guarantee security and called for greater participation in European defence efforts. Her remarks were made during an interview on Austrian radio Ö1 ORF’s Mittagsjournal programme, as reported by Puls 24.
Meinl Reisinger stated that while she supports using interest from frozen Russian assets, she also believes that the assets themselves should be considered for Ukraine’s reconstruction. She acknowledged that the European Commission’s proposal is the right approach but stressed the importance of establishing a clear legal framework for its implementation.
When asked whether Austria and the rest of Europe should prepare for a potential Russian attack, she expressed hope that such a scenario would not occur. However, she emphasised the importance of preventing this possibility through decisive action at the European level. She warned that Russia has already been waging hybrid warfare against Europe for years, using cyberattacks, sabotage, and large scale disinformation campaigns to destabilise democratic institutions.
The Austrian Foreign Minister argued that neutrality does not protect Austria in the current security environment. She stated that neutrality should be understood in the context of the European Union’s security and defence policies, rather than as a justification for inaction. Austria, she said, must not become involved in conflicts outside Europe but should take an active role in modernising its military, strengthening cooperation with EU armed forces, and participating in joint arms procurement initiatives.
France has already taken steps to use Russian financial resources for Ukraine’s benefit. Paris recently announced a 195 million euro military aid package for Ukraine, funded by the interest from frozen Russian assets. This assistance will include artillery shells, AASM bombs, AMX 10RC light tanks, and VAB armoured personnel carriers.
The European Commission is also advancing its support for Ukraine’s reconstruction. A new agreement between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) has secured a 2 billion euro guarantee to fund Ukraine’s recovery efforts.
