Czech President Petr Pavel has expressed hope that the decisiveness and “irresistible style” of newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump could encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to make concessions and open the door for diplomacy in the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Pavel emphasized that achieving peace will be a lengthy process, one that cannot be accomplished in just 24 hours.
“If direct contact between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could lead to Russia being more willing to make concessions and give space to diplomacy, that would represent a significant step forward,” Pavel stated in an interview with Czech tabloid Blesk.
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Pavel further assessed that it might be worth considering a temporary halt to the war, even at the cost of an unjust peace, such as a scenario proposed by Trump’s team involving a demilitarized zone along the current front lines.
“Along with the right to a fair peace—not one that rewards the aggressor—perhaps not on the day the ceasefire takes effect, but to create an opportunity for restoring international law in the future, including territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine across its entire territory,” Pavel said.
The Long Road to Peace
The Czech President stressed that the key to any resolution lies in the willingness of both warring parties to first enter negotiations. Only after that could peace talks begin, and the path to peace would undoubtedly be long.
“I believe that the willingness of the warring sides to engage in negotiations is the first step, and then we can talk about how to achieve peace, because the road to peace will certainly be long and cannot be finished in just 24 hours,” said Pavel.
Pavel also reflected on the current situation in Ukraine, noting that while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses readiness for talks, Russia continues to launch its largest aerial strikes yet, targeting civilian infrastructure.
“The aim is to paralyze Ukraine as a country capable of securing the basic needs of its population, forcing it to accept peace under any conditions,” he stated.
Concerns About Trump’s Upcoming Administration
Pavel also voiced concerns about the first actions and appointments within Trump’s future administration, warning that such shifts could lead to instability, which is detrimental to global security. He pointed out that attempts to run a country like a business have shown to be ineffective.
“Any change that brings revolution rather than evolution raises concerns. Some of Trump’s statements, like the idea of firing nearly all generals because they don’t align with the new administration’s vision, have revolutionary traits,” Pavel said.
The Czech President warned that, in today’s geopolitical environment, the world cannot afford such upheavals, which would contribute to instability.
