President Pavel: Czech Republic should join peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if deployed

If peacekeeping forces are deployed in Ukraine, the Czech Republic could and should take part, President Petr Pavel said in an interview with the Czech News Agency (ČTK). He argued that Prague’s participation would be appropriate since the country has been an active player in the peace process and has supported Ukraine from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The scope of involvement, he added, would depend on the terms of any agreement.

The Czech head of state also voiced the view that territorial concessions in Ukraine are likely in the interest of reaching a settlement, even though they represent a violation of international law. Such concessions, he said, reflect the reality on the battlefield, and if the war is not to drag on for years with mounting casualties and destruction, a temporary loss of territory is the lesser evil.