Czech president to UN: Kyiv alone has the right to set the terms for peace

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, and Russia's leaders must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against its neighbor, President Petr Pavel said in his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday evening.

He said Russia must unconditionally withdraw all its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The terms for peace must be set by Ukraine and they must not leave Russia with the hope of one day fulfilling its imperialist ambitions. They cannot be an unfair compromise dictated by Russia, as the aggressor, Pavel said.

The Czech president said his country had experienced Russian military aggression during the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and is ready to support Ukraine in its legitimate defence for as long as is necessary.

The president also condemned China's military activities in the Taiwan Strait and the intercontinental ballistic missile tests conducted by Iran and North Korea as a threat to global security.