Pavel: Russia and China must be at table for Ukraine peace talks

The Czech president, Petr Pavel, says that no peace talks on Ukraine can take place without Russia and China at the table. In an interview published by the Czech News Agency on Thursday, he said that China ought to take more responsibility for peace in the world on the basis of rules – not on the basis of who has the bigger army or greater economic power.

Mr. Pavel said he welcomed the fact that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said for the first time this month that Russian officials would attend the next peace summit related to the conflict.

The Czech head of state said war fatigue was affecting both combatants and that elections in many countries would have an influence, starting with the presidential poll in the US.

Mr. Pavel also said that the outcome of negotiations involving Israel and the Palestinians – from which Hamas must be excluded – should be some form of statehood for the Palestinians.