CZECHIA, TUE, DECEMBER 10, 2024 –

Photo: Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala warned against appeasement of Russia (president gov.ua)

AUTHOR: LILIANA OLENIAK

A timely quote from Dmytro Kuleba:

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, known for his firm approach to condemning Russian aggression, warned allies against a policy of appeasement of Russia in negotiations to end the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

In addition, he compares any attempts to force Kyiv to make concessions to the shameful Munich Agreement of 1938, when the United Kingdom, France, and Italy accepted the de facto annexation of part of then-Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in a misguided attempt to prevent a wider war.

“Europe’s security simply can’t be ensured with Russia occupying a part of Ukraine and continuing its aggression. I don’t believe in the politics of appeasement — it always benefits the aggressor. Always,” Fiala emphasizes.

According to him, any concessions in the war against Ukraine will only encourage Russia to further aggression, so he called on the allies to strengthen military support for Ukraine to prevent the repetition of historical mistakes.

The Prime Minister also adds that Czechia is actively involved in the necessary supply of weapons to Ukraine and is hosting refugees, demonstrating solidarity with the victims of the war.

He notes that the security of Europe depends on the demonstration of US strength to Russia.

“We find ourselves in a very complicated and dangerous situation that some rightly describe as a second Cold War. It is in our interest to have an America that is strong, and which will show its strength to Russia, because that is the only chance to stop Putin,” the Czech Prime Minister explains.

Fiala says that during a conversation with Donald Trump, the newly elected US president expressed interest in Prague’s position on Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister, Trump is well aware of the importance of resolving the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East.

He also says that the Czech government has raised defense spending to 2% of GDP in line with NATO standards. Fiala called on other European countries to increase their military support for Ukraine without waiting for the US to act.

Despite the decline in his popularity due to budget reforms, Fiala is confident in the correctness of his course. However, the threat of populist Andrej Babis returning to power, as noted in the interview, remains real.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky recently said that Russia could be behind nearly a hundred hybrid attacks in Europe this year.

Czechia plans to continue the initiative on ammunition for Ukraine in 2025.

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Zelenskyy’s office reveals key issues for first meeting of new Contact Group 

TUE, DECEMBER 10, 2024 –

Photo: Ihor Zhovkva (GettyImages)

AUTHOR: ROMAN KOT, VIKTOR NAZARENKO

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to discuss Ukraine’s invitation to NATO during the meeting of the Contact Group on ending the war, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva reports, according to RBC-Ukraine.

Zhovkva reminded that yesterday, Zelenskyy announced the creation of a new Contact Group and its first meeting with several European partners.

“One of the issues for such a meeting, one of the agenda items, will undoubtedly be the issue we are discussing, the application for membership, and the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine until it joins NATO, along with other issues, including military support for Ukraine,” Deputy Head of the Presidential Office said.

According to Zhovkva, these issues were also raised during a recent meeting between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and newly elected US President Donald Trump.

What led to this

Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had already organized a new Contact Group. So far, several European countries have joined the group, which will work on developing a unified position on ending the war.

Later, the press secretary of Ukraine’s president, Serhiy Nykyforov, stated that although Ukraine has organized a new contact group to end the war, the list of participants is still being determined.

Nykyforov also mentioned that Ukraine plans to hold the group’s first meeting in December.