Pavel sees no alternative to diplomacy in the Ukraine war

Czech President Petr Pavel believes that diplomacy has a duty to ensure an end to the war in Ukraine. There must be a push to end the conflict through diplomacy, Pavel said on Friday during a visit to Dresden.

In order to start negotiations, both sides must be willing to do so and there must be an openness to proposals from the other side. "It is not acceptable for one side to unilaterally restrict and dictate the terms of the negotiations with ultimatums." Pavel had come to Dresden at the invitation of Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU).

The Czech President said that wars often lead to the complete exhaustion of both warring parties with high casualties and no territorial gains. That is why it is important to resolve conflicts without wars.

Even in the current war in Ukraine, neither side will be able to fully achieve their goals. It is therefore important to ensure that Ukraine is able to defend the parts that it still has. Pavel agreed with Germany that there was no other choice in this situation but to help Ukraine, because it was a matter of principle, such as what kind of world we want to live in.

Pavel did not want to comment on the question of possible deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles by Germany. The forms of aid are different, he said. Germany is one of the most important supporters of Ukraine, not only in terms of financial and military aid.

Saxon head of government Kretschmer, who has repeatedly called for more diplomatic initiatives to end the Russian war of aggression, drew a historical parallel. "The crimes committed by the National Socialists against the Czech Republic and its people show that a criminal regime is not satisfied with breaking the law." Once the dam has been broken, it goes on and on. March 15 is a reminder date for the free world to resolutely oppose all attempts to shift borders and question international law.

According to Kretschmer, Russia must not win this war. "Not a single square meter of Ukrainian territory - not even in Crimea - has become Russian or will become Russian as a result of this invasion." The Czech Republic enjoys enormous respect and recognition in Germany and the Western world thanks to Pavel's work.

On March 15, 1939, the Wehrmacht occupied the Czech Republic and established the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia shortly afterwards. This was a further step towards the Second World War.