President Pavel: Peace talks without Ukraine and EU would reward Russia
Heads of states and other representatives met over the weekend at the three-day Munich Security Conference, held from February 14 to 16, 2025. This year, the conference mainly focused on transatlantic relations, Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the Middle East.
Much of this year's Munich Security Conference focused on Russia’s war on Ukraine, as US President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, told the conference that Europeans would not be part of the planned talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US.
Senior US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia this week to set the stage for a potential summit between the presidents of the two countries, which could take place as early as late February. Its topic is expected to be an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Czech President Petr Pavel, who attended the security conference, said that a peace agreement for Ukraine, without Ukraine and the EU, should not be considered a viable option because it would reward the aggressor for violating the rules-based order.
“We have mutual interests that Russia for its aggression is not rewarded but that the terms on which they will negotiate will above all be just for Ukraine and respect the principles and laws that the world is based on and that protects us as well.”
On X the president wrote, “The terms on which a peace agreement is made must therefore, above all, be fair to the invaded country and respect the rules on which the world is based. The rules of sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for international law.”
Meanwhile, the US vice-president, JD Vance, criticized alleged restrictions on freedom of speech in Europe, citing the recently canceled presidential elections in Romania as an example. He also criticized the European Commission and its policy of regulating social networks.
According to the US vice president, while it is important for Europe to develop its defenses externally, he added that he is more concerned about the dangers he sees threatening Europe from within.
Prior to Vance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke at the security conference, devoting a large part of her speech to the war in Ukraine. She said, among other things, that its collapse would weaken not only Europe but also the United States.
“As Volodymyr Zelensky said from the start, Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else. One that is just and lasting, so that the horrors of the last three years are not revisited ever again.”
Von der Leyen also touched on the relationship between the European Union and the United States under President Donald Trump's administration. In her view, trade wars do not make sense, but unfair tariffs will not go unanswered.
