Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer still sees little chance for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. According to him, the Istanbul talks show that not all the doors for a negotiated solution are closed yet.

DPA reports that.

"They are both in the logic of war, but they both know that at some point it has to end. The big question will be: How can the war end with saving face for both sides?" the chancellor said.

But until then, he said, there is still a fear of an escalation of hostilities in the Donbas.

"Both sides are preparing for a very tense and, humanly speaking, destructive battle," Nehammer added.

In his view, the latest EU sanctions against defense exports will only weaken Russia's military influence in the medium term.

"This is why it does not lead to Putin immediately ending the war now," the Austrian chancellor said.

However, he said, Putin is well aware that a war would have serious economic consequences for his country.

According to Nehammer, Russian gas supplies to Europe are not safe, even if sanctions considerations are not taken into account. The consequences of a war and the undermining of pipelines could lead to a supply disruption, he said.

"There is a risk that this could happen anyway - even if Austria, Germany and other countries oppose the gas embargo," the politician said.