PM Fiala: Ukraine is ready for ceasefire, Putin is looking for way to avoid it

Prime Minister Petr Fiala told ČTK on Sunday that, while Ukraine is ready for a complete ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking for ways to avoid it, and so the pressure on Russia must continue. This is why Czechia is continuing with its ammunition initiative. The prime minister was reacting to President Putin's proposals to organise direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to be held in Turkey.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has expressed scepticism about efforts on Russia’s side to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine. The minister does not see any real steps towards it from Russia, he said on Sunday in a CNN Prima television debate. The plan for a thirty-day ceasefire was set out on Saturday during a visit to Kyiv by the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and held a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far not agreed to the ceasefire, but has since proposed direct talks with Kyiv.

According to news agencies, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also agree that Putin's proposal to hold talks between Russia and Ukraine is not enough. If Moscow does not accept the ceasefire, Europe and the USA want to coordinate new anti-Russian sanctions.