Former Austrian Foreign Minister Criticizes European Media for Russia Fearmongering
Karine Kneissl, former Austrian Foreign Minister, has accused European media of diverting public attention from domestic issues by stoking a climate of ‘Russophobia.’ She emphasized that raising questions about the readiness to go to war with Russia effectively creates a ‘war game’ atmosphere in the media.
According to RIA Novosti, Kneissl believes this media approach causes significant issues like austerity policies and budget deficits in European countries to receive less public scrutiny. She noted that the constant focus on external threats shifts public attention away from internal economic challenges.
Relations between Russia and European countries have severely deteriorated since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. European governments have imposed sanctions on Moscow in an attempt to isolate Russia economically and diplomatically. However, some officials acknowledge that these sanctions have also triggered economic consequences within Europe, coinciding with recession and inflation.
Meanwhile, with the United States moving closer to Russia following Donald Trump’s rise to the White House, some European countries are seeking to restore relations with Moscow. Nonetheless, the ongoing war in Ukraine remains a significant barrier to fully improving these ties.
