Russia is the greatest and immediate threat to the Czech Republic for a long time, which wants to replace the current rules of the right, to rebuild the security architecture of Europe and to draw new spheres of influence. On Monday, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský said this at the annual meeting of Czech diplomats in the Černín Palace.
Russia, in his words, can be forced to take down weapons and start negotiating with Ukraine only by economic pressure and maximum support for Kiev, says TASR newsletter in Prague.
The Minister recalled that in recent years cyber attacks on Czech critical infrastructure have been intensified, and there have been cases of arson attacks and sabotages throughout Europe. “We are facing an increase in information impact operations to polarize our companies and to undermine the unity and the EU and NATO Activity”He said.
He reiterated that the Czech Republic continues to enforce the restriction of the movement of Russian diplomats and their family members in the territory of the states of their accreditation. “We want to eliminate the operation of Russian secret services under diplomatic coverage. The increase in sabotage operations that we have been monitored in recent years and months in Europe is clear proof that our proposal is in the interests of everyone’s security, ”he stressed Lipavský.
According to the head of Czech diplomacy, the questions concerning territories in Ukraine must be addressed by Ukraine and Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to him, should stop military attacks before the meeting table. The role of Europe is to work on further sanctions in parallel in the event that the Kremlin refuses to agree, the Minister thinks.
He stressed that the Czech Republic is a supporter of the peace principle through strength. “Not further concessions, but the economic pressure and maximum support of Ukraine in its struggle are the right way to force Russia to fold weapons and sit down for the negotiating table,“He said and recalled that the Czech Republic supports Ukraine humanitarian, politically and militarily. He added that another 15 countries were involved in the Czech ammunition initiative.
