Kyiv: Czech President Petr Pavel has insisted on Kyiv's presence in peace negotiations to end Russia's now over three-year-long conflict in Ukraine, Czech Radio reported.
According to Anadolu Agency, 'Any peace agreement must be negotiated with Ukraine and accepted by that country, and negotiations must begin by acknowledging who is the aggressor and who is the victim,' Pavel stated during a virtual address at a summit in Kyiv.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala remarked on the new US administration's shift in position regarding its role as a guarantor of peace and global order, calling it the most significant change since the fall of communism. 'This does not mean that the United States is no longer our ally, but it has made it perfectly clear that the time has come for European states to be able to take care of their own problems,' Fiala added.
He emphasized the necessity for Europe to quickly adapt to these changes, warning of potential high costs otherwise. Fiala also advocated for reforming the EU's fiscal rules to facilitate major investments in defense and security while eliminating barriers to business and trade.
The Prime Minister stressed that only a strong Europe, both economically and security-wise, could withstand the threat posed by Russia. He suggested that defense spending should increase to at least 3% of GDP in the coming years to ensure wise use of funds. Additionally, he proposed using frozen Russian assets for further military aid to Ukraine.
To mark the third anniversary of the Russian conflict, leaders from several European nations and top European Union officials gathered in Kyiv to express their support. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is directly engaging with Russia to end the war, sidelining Ukraine and Europe, a move that has caused widespread backlash across the continent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to advocate for NATO membership, emphasizing that Ukraine requires the alliance's security guarantees for lasting peace. However, the Trump administration has indicated that Ukraine's NATO aspirations and hopes of regaining pre-2014 borders are unlikely.