OREANDA-NEWS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer began negotiations at the residence of the head of the Russian state in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow, TASS reports citing the press secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

According to him, the conversation will take place behind closed doors, after the meeting there will be no protocol shooting and statements for the press. Such a format was initiated by the Austrian side, he explained.

Earlier, Peskov said that the main topic of negotiations would be the situation in Ukraine, but the parties plan to discuss "gas affairs" as well.

Nehammer's visit to Moscow was the first since he took office as Austrian chancellor at the end of 2021. He also became the first EU leader to visit Russia since the start of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

“The conversation will be about the situation around Ukraine. All other questions are better addressed to the Austrian side,” said the Kremlin spokesman.

He also did not rule out that gas matters could be discussed, since this issue is now very relevant for the Austrian side.

Earlier it became known that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer will hold their first meeting in Moscow on April 11.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to conduct a military special operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the heads of the LPR and DPR.

The decision to conduct the operation was the reason for new sanctions against Russia by the United States and its allies.