Pavel to The New York Times: Ukraine must be realistic about its goals

Ukrainian leaders need to be realistic about their war objectives and accept that some of their territory might remain under Russian control, at least temporarily, said Czech President Petr Pavel in an interview with The New York Times. He noted that both Ukraine and Russia are unlikely to achieve their maximalist goals, and the war’s outcome will likely be a compromise.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský echoed Pavel's sentiments, acknowledging that Ukraine cannot currently retake all its land but emphasized that this does not mean ceding territory to Russia. Both leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.