According to Karl Nehammer, now such assistance poses a threat to the lives of the militaryVIENNA, May 19.
/tass/. The Austrian military will not take part in mine clearance in Ukraine while there is fighting. This was announced on Friday by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
"Austrian soldiers will not take part in mine clearance operations on Ukrainian territory while fighting is going on in this zone," he wrote on Twitter.
According to the politician, now such assistance poses a threat to the lives of the military.
He noted that such events are usually held by international organizations. Austria is considering the possibility of financing one of these initiatives, the head of government added.
On May 17, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen criticized the country's government for its unwillingness to send mine clearance specialists to Ukraine right now.
Earlier, the head of the Austrian Defense Ministry, Claudia Tanner, stated that the Austrian military could go to Ukraine to provide support for mine clearance, but only after the end of hostilities. According to the minister, "anything else would be contrary to the constitution." According to the publication, the Austrian Ministry of Defense fears that even participation in humanitarian demining before the end of hostilities will jeopardize the country's neutrality, since "the parties to the conflict will be able to use the cleared paths for a strategic offensive."