Junior ruling party wants EU leaders to negotiate with Russia over Ukraine

Czechia should urge EU leaders to negotiate with Russia on peace in Ukraine at this week’s summit in Brussels, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leader Tomio Okamura said on Monday.

Speaking after a meeting of the governing coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists, Okamura said Czechia should not support the war but instead push for peace talks with Moscow, following the example of the United States. He added that his proposal had met with no objections, including from Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO).

Asked specifically whether Prime Minister Babiš shared his position, Okamura said he could not speak on the prime minister’s behalf, but noted that Babiš had not opposed the proposal at the coalition meeting.