President Pavel: Czechia should push for EU entry talks with Ukraine this year

The Czech Republic should push for launching EU accession talks with Ukraine this year already, Czech President Petr Pavel said after a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels on Friday.

Mr Pavel also criticised the unilateral blockades of Ukrainian grain imports which have been imposed by Poland, Slovakia and some other countries due to problems with sales of their own grain. The president suggested that the EU could introduce temporary customs duties instead as a potential solution.