Austrian ruling party MEP warns against Putin meetings without confrontation

A European Parliament member from Austria's ruling party has warned that any diplomatic visits to Moscow must involve confronting Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. The statement comes as Austria continues to grapple with political tensions over the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which maintains close ties with Russia and has defended Russian aggression against Ukraine. The FPÖ, known for its populist and anti-immigration rhetoric, has also advocated for resuming Russian gas and oil supplies to Europe. When Austria's current government was formed over a year ago, many European leaders feared the pro-Russian FPÖ might come to power, raising concerns about Austria's stance on EU sanctions and support for Ukraine.