Minister of Defense Jana Černochová and Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka spoke at a press conference to mark the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine and the Czech aid provided in the past year, February 23, 2023, Prague.
Prague – None of the ways in which the war in Ukraine can end will mean greater security for the Czech Republic and the North Atlantic Alliance. Russia will be more dangerous and hostile and at the same time less predictable, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka said at today's press conference on the year since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Advertisement'; }
Rehka currently does not see a way to a quick end to the conflict. According to him, there are no real conditions for a diplomatic solution, nor for a military victory by one of the parties in the foreseeable future. “Unfortunately, the conflict will continue for some time,” he said.
No matter how the conflict ends, according to Řehka, this result will not mean greater security for the Czech Republic or NATO. “Russia, which is already a threat, will in any case be more dangerous, more hostile and less predictable for us,” summed up the Chief of the General Staff.
According to Defense Minister Jana Černochová (ODS), a diplomatic solution must be interest of both parties. “If every day we witness the Russian aggressor bombing, harassing and terrorizing the civilian population, it cannot be expected that proposals to sit at the diplomatic table will be accepted from the Ukrainian side,” he says.
Negotiations must follow on from the clear will of both parties to come to an agreement. “It must not be the case that tens or hundreds of children and civilian victims will die every day, who are not to blame for the fact that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin decided to implement his desires in Ukraine,” Cernochova stated.
