Vienna, 30 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) members walked out of the country's parliament during a video address by Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, charging that the virtual appearance by the Ukrainian president was an infringement of Austrian neutrality.

Ahead of the speech delivered via video link, Herbert Kickl, chairman of the right-wing populist party, said the government and other opposition parties had shown "unilateral support for a war party."

In his speech, Zelensky emphasised "how important it is not to be morally neutral towards evil." He thanked Austria for providing Ukraine with humanitarian support, medical treatment of war victims and assistance in clearing landmines.

The FPÖ has in the past shown pro-Russian sentiment. In 2016 it concluded a friendship agreement with the United Russia party, a conservative party holding a majority in the Russian parliament.

Two years later, President Vladimir Putin was a guest at the wedding of Karin Kneissl, a member of the FPÖ who was Austrian foreign minister at the time.