Minister appreciates Czech support for Ukraine, praises Russian protesters against invasion

The Czech minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Lipavský, says he appreciates the wave of solidarity shown by people in the Czech Republic toward Ukraine following its invasion by Russia on Thursday. Speaking after a meeting of his ministry’s Crisis Staff on Friday morning, he also praised the courage of people in Russia itself who had protested against the Kremlin’s actions.

The Czech Republic has closed its consulate general in the Ukrainian city of Lviv for security reasons, Mr. Lipavský said.

The Czech embassy in Kyiv had already been closed following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The Czech government on Thursday ordered the closing of Russian consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary and said it would close its own consulates in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in Russia.