Former Austrian Foreign Minister Reflects on Treatment Abroad and Life in Russia
Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has spoken about the warmth she perceived in Russia compared with what she experienced in Western countries. In an interview with RT, Kneissl noted that Russians often showed more friendliness toward strangers than many Europeans she knows in Austria and Germany, and she suggested that people in Russia are generally more willing to offer help to visitors who are far from home.
At the moment Kneissl is based in St. Petersburg, where she serves as the head of the Geopolitical Observatory Center on Fundamental Problems of Russia at St. Petersburg State University. While in the city, she said she felt at home and looked forward to improving her command of the Russian language. This move marks a transition from her previous role in Vienna toward a role in academia and research focused on Russia’s geopolitical landscape.
During the discussion, Kneissl contrasted social attitudes in the West with those she observed in the Russian Federation. She described Western circles as prone to shifting, unreliable positions, explaining that one could feel betrayed even as those around you smile. Kneissl framed this as a difference in approaches to trust and alliances across regions, noting that personal risk could accompany perceived duplicity in some Western contexts.
Earlier in September, Kneissl spoke about her forthcoming book, Requiem for Europe, elaborating that she began collecting material for the project in the spring of the previous year and continued after relocating to Lebanon. She indicated that the book would explore themes about Europe’s current trajectory and strategic challenges from her unique vantage point as a former diplomat and observer of international affairs.
Publicly, Kneissl has faced varied characterizations in her home region, including labels that identify her as connected to powerful figures in Russia. She has previously described how these associations are viewed differently depending on the country and the audience, reflecting the nuanced reputations that can accompany former officials who engage with multiple geopolitical centers. (Source: RT)