Ukrainian President gives speech in Austrian parliament via video link

"Russian forces planted mines and traps in areas where they were supposed to retreat, resulting in the death or serious injury of civilians."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in the videoconference speech at the special session of the Austrian National Parliament, SIA reports.

"We are losing our people every day because of this war," said Zelensky, noting that the people of Ukraine are not only dying as a result of conflicts, but also that there are losses in the territories freed from the occupation of Russian forces, and that the civilian population continues to lose their lives or get injured as a result of mines and traps.

Zelensky addressed the chamber via video link, thanking Austria for its humanitarian aid and help with projects such as clearing land mines. Austria says its neutrality prevents it from military involvement in the conflict and while it supports Ukraine politically it cannot send the country weapons in its fight against the Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, lawmakers from The Freedom Party (FPO) walked out of the lower house of Austria’s parliament on Thursday during the Ukrainian President's speech, protesting that it violated Austria’s neutrality.

The Freedom Party, however, had warned days before that it would hold some form of protest against Zelensky’s address. Its lawmakers attended the start of the speech and then left.

Lawmakers who walked out of the chamber left small placards on their desks featuring the party logo and either “space for neutrality” or “space for peace.”

“It is sad that the FPO is the only party in parliament that takes our ever-lasting neutrality seriously, thereby also standing up for peace,” FPO leader Herbert Kickl said in a statement on Tuesday.

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