Calls for Ukraine to give up territories to Russia are unacceptable, Austrian Foreign Ministry says

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in an interview with Ukrinform.

"I believe such calls are completely unnecessary. Let's imagine that we are under attack: South Styria or Burgenland was occupied by a foreign state, there was an attempt to destroy the Austrian federal government or expel it from the country. And then we would be told: "Dear Austrians, why don't you give up part of your territory for the sake of peace?" I consider such calls from the outside unacceptable," the diplomat said.

According to him, the end of the war is a matter exclusively for the Ukrainian people, and no one can impose their opinion on the citizens in this matter.

He also praised Ukrainians for their resolute resistance to the occupying Russian forces.

"They (the people - ed.) have been attacked and demonstrate an incredible willingness to fight. It's ironic, but we can say that Putin has contributed more to the unity of Ukrainian society with his attack than anyone else before him. Therefore, such calls from the outside are absolutely absurd. The final decision here must be made by the Ukrainian people," the minister stressed.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the peace plan would be ready by the end of November, but that it would not include territorial concessions to Russia.