The Audio Long Read Dancing with Putin: how Austria’s former foreign minister found a new home in Russia
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Sep 8, 2025 Karin Kneissl's controversial invitation to Putin at her wedding sparked global headlines and highlighted Austria's delicate ties with Russia. Her career as a foreign minister was filled with ambition, challenges, and provocative writings on international affairs. The podcast dives into her shocking shift from Vienna’s political scene to life in St. Petersburg, exploring her ideological transformation amid rising geopolitical tensions. With anecdotes of her eccentricities and the infamous dance with Putin, the discussion reveals a complex figure navigating a tumultuous landscape.
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Neutrality Masks Business Interests
- Austria's neutrality and mediator self-image mask pragmatic ties to Russia driven by national self-interest.
- Russia remained a top investor and business partner despite EU sanctions after 2022.
Question Neutrality Claims
- Scrutinize neutrality claims when economic ties persist despite political rhetoric.
- Watch investment and corporate links to reveal true geopolitical alignment.
Business Hesitation After Invasion
- Austrian firms lagged peers in exiting Russia, showing how economic ties slowed policy shifts.
- Raiffeisen and others only recently reduced operations, behind UK and French banks.
