Ukrainian Ambassador in Vienna: "We need humanitarian assistance"
The war in Ukraine has been going on for several weeks and the humanitarian crisis is a new challenge for Europe. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets, met with the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, and Provincial Councilor Martin Eichtinger for talks at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. The discussion focused on Russia's violations of human rights and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets / Picture: © www.bundespraesident.at / HBF
The war in Ukraine has been going on for several weeks and the humanitarian crisis is a new challenge for Europe.
The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine caused many people to flee from their homes.
The countries of the European Union bordering Ukraine have already taken in many refugees.
The escalation of the conflict in February 2022 has turned the already volatile situation into a full-scale emergency. People are fleeing their homes trying to find safety elsewhere within the country and are crossing borders into neighboring countries. The situation remains extremely dangerous for anyone inside Ukraine and the vulnerability of those forced to flee is increasing rapidly, with more in need of immediate support.
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets, met with the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, and Provincial Councilor Martin Eichtinger for talks at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna.
The discussion focused on humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The head of the provincial government assured the ambassador of continued assistance from the province of Lower Austria.
Ambassador Vasyl Khymynets spoke of a very constructive conversation: "The topics we discussed are very important for us. I think they are also important for Austria and the province of Lower Austria. The most important thing we discussed is the help for Ukraine and for those who want to save themselves from the war and who have to leave the country. I am very grateful to the governor and the provincial government that they are very committed to ensuring that Ukrainians have opportunities to live here for the next few months."
In addition, he said, he is grateful for the humanitarian aid in Ukraine. "I also told the governor about the terrible things that are happening in Ukraine. It's not easy for me to talk about it, but we keep fighting. It is about our future, the future of Ukraine. But this fight also stands for the future of Europe. In this sense, we expect that this will be recognized accordingly in Europe, but also in Austria and that they will take a clear position as far as the future of Ukraine is concerned. This future is very clearly the EU."
Furthermore, according to the ambassador, there is a need for massive sanctions against Russia. "If we want to talk about the end of the war, then it is quite clear that from one side Ukraine is making its contribution with the losses. But from the other side, the sanctions must also have an effect, so that they create more pressure on Putin from the inside", Khymynets said.
"It was a very informative, but also emotional conversation," governor Mikl-Leitner said after the meeting with the ambassador, adding, "I understand this emotion of the ambassador. Because when there is war at home and three million Ukrainians had to leave the country, you are very affected." Therefore, he said, there is a need for very clear support.
On the part of Lower Austria, humanitarian aid will be continued, many truckloads have already arrived in Ukraine's neighboring countries. The province of Lower Austria wants to provide medical support, firefighting equipment, and support agriculture. "Because we know that Ukraine is the granary of Europe," underlined the governor, who has promised support for seed deliveries to Ukraine.
Lower Austria had also expressed its support for the reception of refugees. More than 6,000 care places have been registered in the meantime. These are now being examined and refugees have already been accommodated in private apartments.
UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency estimates that over 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries since 24 February and more than 2 Millon people are estimated to be internally displaced in Ukraine.
These figures do not yet include human rights atrocities against Ukraine and its people, as well as against the hundreds of thousands of "Russian" citizens who were forcefully issued Russian passports.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Provincial Government of Lower Austria - Amt der Niederoesterreichischen Landesregierung