Czechia/Ukraine – After German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visits to Kiev on Monday (where he promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the rapid disbursement of two loans of 150 million euros each) and then to Moscow (where he stated once again that the West “does not want war”), and while the imminent invasion of Ukraine announced several times by the United States has still not taken place, former Czech President Václav Klaus called on Petr Fiala’s government to remain neutral in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
“An incomprehensible passivity”
In an open letter, the former president urged Prime Minister Petr Fiala to end his “incomprehensible passivity” towards the Ukrainian crisis, which he considers “unsustainable and extremely dangerous for everyone”. Klaus also described the current crisis as “the greatest threat to long-term security” in Europe.
Taking into account Russian fears
Klaus considers that
Russia’s “fears are legitimate and must be taken seriously”
and that “the current conflict cannot be resolved [without Russia] or at its expense”. He also emphasized that “the biggest victim of the situation today and every day is and will be Ukraine itself. (…)
War on Ukrainian territory is not and cannot be in the interest of Ukrainians, who would pay for the war (…) with new and profound economic upheaval, social destabilisation, and a total loss [of their] independence.
(…) It is unwise to rely (…) on the presumption that in a tense situation, (…) a mistake cannot be made. (…) This would not be the first time in history.”
For Václav Klaus, Czechia must act as a mediator
The former president wants the Czech government to act as a mediator:
“We reject attempts to involve the Czech Republic in the conflict’s military escalation, to provide weapons [to Ukraine], and to contribute to the escalation of tensions.
(…) Let’s not make enemies of those who have a different opinion.”
