President Pavel urges sanctions as Ukraine peace talks begin

Czech President Petr Pavel said negotiations on Ukraine are still at an early stage and urged caution in expectations. Speaking in Lány, he stressed that Russia must remain under strong, coordinated sanctions from the US and Europe to prevent delays in reaching peace. Pavel welcomed that Western leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, agreed on the need for clear security guarantees for Kyiv. While Zelensky signaled readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pavel warned that Moscow has yet to confirm. He emphasized that Europe’s support for Ukraine is at least equal to that of the US.