At a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Czech President Petr Pavel said Ukraine will have to make painful concessions to achieve peace. At the same time, he said, Kyiv is ready to take that step.
He did not specify what concessions he meant.
“I believe Ukraine has done a great deal to make the proposed solution acceptable. I believe there are also a number of painful concessions that Ukraine must make and is ready to make, on the condition that this leads to a resolution. And we must do everything possible to ensure all the work done in preparing these documents is not in vain,” Petr Pavel said.
He warned that Russia could reject an agreement - and will continue to do so until it feels unified pressure from Ukraine’s partners on Moscow.
He also stressed that the United States must play an important role in resisting Russian aggression, though Europe cannot stand aside.
“Unfortunately, the sad fact is that without the United States there will be no solution to the war in Ukraine. And it is painful for Europe that the key role is played by the U.S. But that does not mean Europe, including non-EU countries, should be on the sidelines of these efforts,” he noted.
According to him, this is about European security - so Europe itself must take greater responsibility for the region’s security.
Zelensky has said that to resolve the disputed issue of territories, the draft peace agreement contains several options, including a demilitarized “free economic zone” in eastern Ukrainian regions.
On December 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time revealed the 20 points of the draft peace plan. He emphasized that certain points could change during consultations and noted that there is still no agreement on the territories of Donetsk region and on the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Meanwhile, Sky News has noted a shift in Zelensky’s rhetoric. This may indicate the Ukrainian president’s willingness to make concessions. In particular, Zelensky has begun speaking openly about the possibility of holding a referendum and Ukraine’s presidential elections.
