Czechia stands firm against Russia's attempt to dictate Ukraine's future
Photo: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Getty Images)
Czechia supports Ukraine's path to a just peace on Ukrainian terms. Russia has no right to decide anything, reports Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský.
Lipavský reminded that Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to capture Ukraine, neither in three days nor in three years. Now he is taking steps toward negotiations because Ukrainian resistance, sanctions, and European support for Kyiv forced him to do so.
"Ukraine must remain free. State borders cannot be moved through pressure and blackmail. Who becomes a member of the EU and NATO is decided by their members, not Vladimir Putin. Czechia wants peace, but its form must always be agreed first and foremost by Ukraine," the Czech Foreign Minister said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin aims to repeat the Crimea scenario. He is trying to exchange a pause in the war for maintaining the occupied territories. Ukraine is preparing to respond to prevent the country's division.
Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine will not give up its territories to Russia and that the territorial issue is settled in the Constitution.
According to The Wall Street Journal, European countries and Ukraine have presented a plan to end the war that rejects any Russian claims on Ukrainian territory. The plan demands an unconditional ceasefire from the Kremlin before starting peace negotiations.
