Czech foreign minister discusses winter defense and EU sanctions with Ukrainian counterpart

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrij Sybiha about bolstering Ukraine’s defenses ahead of winter. During the call, he also informed Sybiha of a new Czech ban on entry for holders of Russian diplomatic and service passports, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The restrictions, approved by the Czech government in late September, will apply at the outer Schengen border across six international airports, but do not affect diplomats already accredited in the country or those transiting for official purposes.

The EU’s 19th sanctions package targets 118 Russian vessels and additional banks in Russia and third countries, aiming at the sources of Russian revenue, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.