Austria warns of existential Russian threat to Europe

Austrian Chief of General Staff Rudolf Striedinger has characterized the threat posed by Russia to Europe as an “existential threat.” In an interview, Striedinger warned that if Ukraine falls, the situation for Europe would become “really unpleasant.” He emphasized that the danger is not limited to conventional military force but includes constant daily threats in the cyber domain and hybrid warfare methods that can impact societies before tanks even cross a border.

Addressing Austria's neutrality, Striedinger stated that the country is “not neutral in this context” regarding support for Ukraine, noting that Austria’s assistance is based on European Union decisions.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov dismissed claims that Ukraine can withstand Russian military pressure, calling such beliefs a “great delusion.” Peskov asserted that Russian forces are steadily advancing toward their designated objectives on the battlefield. He also noted that Russia welcomes calls to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure and views the intentions of leaders from China and India to contribute to a peace process positively.