Latest news with #AlexanderVanderBellen
Eyewitness News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Federal President of Austria Van der Bellen arrives in SA for 4-day visit
JOHANNESBURG - Federal President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, has arrived in South Africa for a four-day working visit. This is a historic moment as it marks the first time an Austrian head of state visits the country. Van der Bellen will be welcomed by President Cyril Ramaphosa later on Friday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where they will host a joint media briefing. Trade relations between South Africa and Austria have been described as "mutually beneficial" by both nations. In 2024, South Africa exported €617 million worth of goods to Austria, while Austria imported €661 million worth of goods from South Africa. The Presidency said the working visit would focus on improving the bilateral and economic ties between the two countries. This includes sectors like the arts, agriculture and energy. The Austrian delegation will be part of a business forum on Friday afternoon with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau.
Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Zelensky says to discuss buying US weapons with Trump
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky review the Guard of Honour, in Vienna, Austria, on June 16. PHOTO: REUTERS Zelensky says to discuss buying US weapons with Trump VIENNA - Mr Volodymyr Zelensky on June 16 said that he will discuss buying US weapons with Donald Trump at the G-7 summit, but added that US military aid was not on the agenda. 'We are not talking to America today about new assistance. Indeed, one of the issues I will discuss with President Trump at the meeting is the defence package that Ukraine is ready to buy,' Mr Zelensky said during a visit to Vienna, from where he was to travel to Canada for this week's G-7 summit. The Ukrainian president, who has overseen his country's fightback against Russian forces for more than three years, said that 'I can't imagine and I don't want to imagine... how to live without and fight without the help of the United States'. He added: 'I think we all have to work to make sure that the alliance between America and Europe doesn't fall apart.' Mr Zelensky also said that he viewed the G-7 summit as a 'very important' opportunity to see 'what kind of pressure we can all exert to stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, so that he stops the fire, stops the war'. He said that 'we will discuss frozen Russian assets with the leaders, and we will also discuss sanctions'. Mr Zelensky spoke alongside Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen as he made his brief Vienna stopover. In a statement, Mr Zelensky's office said that he and Mr Van der Bellen spoke about an eventual Austrian contribution to Ukraine's postwar reconstruction, including clearing landmines, energy cooperation and food security. The Austrian president noted that, while his country remained militarily neutral, 'it is not so politically'. Austria had good relations with Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, but while it still has some economic links, those ties have notably deteriorated over the past three years. Austria's far-right opposition FPOe party, which is polling first in voter surveys, criticised Mr Zelensky's visit. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ukraine's Zelenskyy visits Austria for first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of his country
VIENNA — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Austria on Monday in his first trip to the European Union member country since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Austria is famously neutral -- a stance it declared in 1955 after World War II -- and Vienna has come under heavy criticism since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war for maintaining ties with Moscow. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 138 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, mainly at the eastern Donetsk region. Of those, 125 were either intercepted or jammed, while 10 reached their targets. Eight others caused damage as falling debris. Zelenskyy was meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and was set to meet later with Chancellor Christian Stocker. The two presidents were expected to hold a news conference later Monday. This is Stocker's first high-profile visit from a foreign dignitary since he took office in March at the head of a previously untried three-party coalition after a record five-month wait for a new administration. Zelenskyy's wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Doris Schmidauer, Van der Bellen's spouse, will also host a discussion about the role of women in promoting peace and security during the trip. Austria, which was annexed by Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II, declared neutrality after the war under pressure from Western allies and the Soviet Union. It sought a role as a mediator between East and West, developing ties with Moscow that outlasted the Cold War. The Austrian government has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but also stressed the need to maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow. Vienna has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine but no weapons. Former Chancellor Karl Nehammer was the first EU leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face after the war started. Nehammer traveled to Moscow in April 2022 in a fruitless attempt to persuade the Russian leader to end the invasion. The Associated Press
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Ukraine's Zelensky visits Austria for first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of his country
Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker, and the two presidents were set to hold a news conference later Monday. Advertisement This is Stocker's first high-profile visit from a foreign dignitary since he took office in March at the head of a previously untried three-party coalition after a record five-month wait for a new administration. Zelenskyy's wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Doris Schmidauer, Van der Bellen's spouse, will also host a discussion about the role of women in promoting peace and security during the trip. Austria, which was annexed by Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II, declared neutrality after the war under pressure from Western allies and the Soviet Union. It sought a role as a mediator between East and West, developing ties with Moscow that outlasted the Cold War. The Austrian government has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but also stressed the need to maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow. Vienna has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine but no weapons. Advertisement Former Chancellor Karl Nehammer was the first EU leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face after the war started. Nehammer traveled to Moscow in April 2022 in a fruitless attempt to persuade the Russian leader to end the invasion.
Al Arabiya
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Ukraine's Zelenskyy Visits Austria for First Time Since Russia's Full-Scale Invasion of His Country
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Austria on Monday in his first trip to the European Union member country since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Austria is famously neutral–a stance it declared in 1955 after World War II–and Vienna has come under heavy criticism since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war for maintaining ties with Moscow. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 138 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, mainly at the eastern Donetsk region. Of those, 125 were either intercepted or jammed, while 10 reached their targets. Eight others caused damage as falling debris. Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker, and the two presidents were set to hold a news conference later Monday. This is Stocker's first high-profile visit from a foreign dignitary since he took office in March at the head of a previously untried three-party coalition after a record five-month wait for a new administration. Zelenskyy's wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Doris Schmidauer, Van der Bellen's spouse, will also host a discussion about the role of women in promoting peace and security during the trip. Austria, which was annexed by Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II, declared neutrality after the war under pressure from Western allies and the Soviet Union. It sought a role as a mediator between East and West, developing ties with Moscow that outlasted the Cold War. The Austrian government has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but also stressed the need to maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow. Vienna has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine but no weapons. Former Chancellor Karl Nehammer was the first EU leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face after the war started. Nehammer traveled to Moscow in April 2022 in a fruitless attempt to persuade the Russian leader to end the invasion.
