Pavel: Russia threatening to undermine rules-based international order

Russia's aggression and growing assertiveness threaten to undermine the international order built on agreed rules and cooperation, President Petr Pavel told Czech ambassadors in a speech at Prague Castle on Tuesday.

The head of state told the gathering of diplomats that he was proud of the strength and unity with which Czechia had stood up for Ukraine and provided shelter for refugees; at the same time, it has managed to break free from its dependence on Russian energy, as impossible as that may have once appeared.

Mr. Pavel said a Russian victory could not be allowed, adding that Moscow had never accepted its loss of political influence over Czechia.