Russia will not share detailed data on its armed forces for 2023 with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a move that appears to bypass a key requirement of the Vienna Document aimed at transparency and confidence-building among signatories. The decision was conveyed by Konstantin Gavrilov, who led the Russian delegation in talks on military security matters in Vienna, signaling a broader stance from Moscow regarding the exchange of force information within this framework.
In the same timeframe, Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the Austrian National Council, addressed the opening session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy in addressing the Ukrainian crisis and pressed for ongoing parliamentary efforts to engage with the issue. Sobotka also posed a forward-looking question about the post-conflict period, underscoring his belief that every war reaches an end and that parliamentary diplomacy should continue to play a role even after hostilities cease. The remarks reflect a push for sustained dialogue at multiple levels of government to support regional stability and conflict de-escalation. (attribution: Austrian Parliament)
Meanwhile, Austria’s foreign ministry called on Russia to adhere to the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, commonly known as START-3. The appeal aligns with Vienna’s broader efforts to reinforce arms-control commitments and ensure transparency and predictability in strategic capabilities across participating states. The development highlights ongoing concern within the OSCE community about compliance with arms-reduction agreements and the need for continued verification and dialogue. (attribution: Austrian Foreign Ministry)