Lipavský: Ukraine must be included in search for diplomatic solution to Russia invasion

During its EU presidency, the Czech Republic will strive not to exclude Ukraine from attempts at finding a diplomatic solution to its conflict with Russia, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said on Sunday while speaking on Prima TV’s weekly politics debate show. The statement was made in reaction to attempts by some Western European politicians to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, even if it means ceding territory to Russia.

Mr Lipavský said that the presidency itself will not influence negotiations with the Russian Federation, but that the Czech Republic will put questions related to supporting Ukraine on the table at EU meetings. "We will stress that Europe should not forget about Ukraine,” the minister said, highlighting that what happened to Czechoslovakia in 1938 must not happen to Ukraine.

The six month Czech EU presidency starts in July 2022.