Pavel: Backing Ukraine does not rule out search for end to conflict

Czech President Petr Pavel says supporting Ukraine militarily does not mean ruling out searching for a solution to the conflict. He said, however, that any potential peace settlement would necessarily presuppose Ukraine’s consent. This was one reason he had accepted an invitation to a peace conference in June hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky.

Mr. Pavel made these comments a day after an interview he gave to television station Sky News in the UK led to speculation among Czech politicians regarding his position on the matter.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Pavel said Russia alone had the power to immediately end the conflict but had no interest in doing so.