Czech President says Europe has to set out clear boundaries for Russia

Czech President Petr Pavel has said that Europe has to set out clear boundaries for Russia, because peace cannot be achieved by accepting Russia’s goals and demands.

Source: Pavel in an interview with Die Presse, as reported by ČTK and European Pravda

Details: Pavel believes that Europe is currently experiencing the dawn of a long-term confrontation with Russia, though it will not necessarily lead to a military confrontation.

Pavel said that if European countries want to support their own security and flourishing, they have to establish clear boundaries for Russia.

"Failing to do so could lead to significant difficulties in the future," Pavel said, adding that peace cannot be achieved by accepting Russia’s goals and demands.

Pavel stressed that Russia wants to renew the imperial might of the Soviet Union, including regaining its sphere of influence, and talks openly about it.

"We have to be prepared that Russia will not be our peaceful partner […] When Russia is undermining our interests, we have to resist it. Because otherwise our way of life and our values will be in danger," the Czech president said. He noted that when Europe supports Ukraine, it is investing in its own security.

Pavel also believes that there is still a chance that Russia will realise that it cannot secure a military success in Ukraine, which would lead to diplomatic negotiations – rather than an "insane waste of resources and human lives".

However, Pavel thinks it is not very likely that Ukraine will be able to regain control over all of its territory in the foreseeable future. Though he said that no one is denying the possibility that Ukraine might at some point join NATO, Pavel said it was important to make it clear that this will not create a direct threat to Russia.

When asked about the possibility of Donald Trump being elected as the president of the United States, Pavel said that Europe has for a long time behaved like a "spoiled child" towards the US and now it has to be prepared to take on more security responsibilities in the event of Trump’s election.

Background: 

• On 9 May, Pavel announced that the first 180,000 shells purchased for Ukraine under the Czech-led initiative will arrive in Ukraine in June.
• In mid-April, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that Czechia had signed contracts to supply 180,000 artillery rounds for Ukraine as part of a new initiative and is currently working on contracts for another 300,000 rounds.
• Fiala later said that 1.5 million artillery shells could potentially be procured for Ukraine in this way within a year.
• Meanwhile, Czech President Pavel does not think that Western countries have lost hope that Ukraine will win the war.

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