Austria wants to remain neutral.

'Wars belong in museums' is written on an inscription in front of the Museum of Military History in Vienna.

Herbert Kickl is the leader of the Freedom Party of Austria since 2021. He was previously Minister for the Interior from 2017 to 2019 and general-secretary of the FPÖ from 2005 to 2018

Mainstream parties call the FPÖ far right hoping to put of any voters. It looks as thought the party, like olters that have been title far right, may make significant gains in elections. As with others their main platform is to reduce immigration and retain Austrian values. They fear that the countries culture is being watered down by massive immigration. Basically what the UK Reform Party is also canvassing on.

The limited importance of foreign policy in the discussion can be partly explained by Austria's special situation as a neutral country.

Austria has been a member of the European Union (EU) since 1995, but not of NATO. After Sweden and Finland joined the alliance as a result of the Russian invasion, only three other European states (Cyprus, Ireland and Malta) share this category with Austria.

During the Sunday edition of the Austrian TV channel ORF's 'Pressestunde' talk show, the leader of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), Herbert Kickl, defended his position on the Russian war against Ukraine in detail.

He accused the government of violating neutrality, opposed EU sanctions against Russia and arms deliveries, and called for understanding for both sides, an end to the 'escalation spiral' and a negotiated solution. In Kickl's view, the political message of 8 May is that in the war in Ukraine, it is important to 'get out of the spiral of escalation' - and not to turn the screw further with an oil embargo or the delivery of heavy weapons. He fears that Russia might be more likely to resort to its 'weapons of mass destruction' and does not believe that Ukraine can win the war.

Furthermore, an oil and gas embargo would catapult Europe's economy 'back decades'.

He called for 'recognising that peace policy is realpolitik and for trying to find a solution where Russia can also get out of this conflict with some degree of face-saving'. One approach would be for Ukraine to remain neutral and to relinquish Crimea. After all, 'do you really believe that the Russians will ever give 'up Crimea?

Kickl repeatedly called for 'understanding' for Russia and criticised, with reference to US military activities 'the one-sidedness' of the debate and the lack of condemnation of the USA. He denied, however, that the FPÖ has a close relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin: 'I am not taking Russia's side here, I strongly reject that,' said Kickl and answered the question of whether the FPÖ had ever received money from Russia with a brief 'no'.

He explained the 'friendship treaty' with Putin's party 'United Russia' as a declaration of intent without legal consequences, actually just 'a dead piece of paper'

Austria's 'permanent neutrality' has been part of its constitution since 1955.

Austrian Law states:

'Austria will never in the future accede to any military alliances nor permit the establishment of military bases of foreign states on her territory'.