War in Ukraine tests Austria’s status as gateway to the east

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses Austria's lower house of parliament via video link in Vienna, Austria, March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

Vienna: Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems makes modular steel overpasses that can span rivers and valleys in conflict zones. As Ukraine seeks help to restore infrastructure, the equipment might look like a perfect fit.

Even as Russia’s war shows no signs of abating, Ukraine’s allies are already looking at how to rebuild and Austria wants to be front and centre of that effort. The Vienna-based company, though, hasn’t delivered a single bridge and chief executive officer Richard Kerschbaumer said he doesn’t expect that to change this year.