The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, expressed his belief that if peacekeeping units were deployed on Ukrainian territory, his country could become part of such forces. According to the head of state, the Czech Republic has been actively supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, and it is logical to be involved in further peace initiatives if a corresponding international agreement is reached.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Demilitarized Zone and Participation of International Missions
Petr Pavel reported that the likelihood of creating a demilitarized zone along the line of contact is being considered as one of the possible scenarios. Such zones, he stated, would require not only technical but also physical control, which likely implies the presence of international peacekeeping forces. The specific involvement of the Czech Republic will depend on the form and content of a potential peace agreement.
“There is an opinion that along the line of contact, whatever it may be, a certain demilitarized zone could arise. Such a zone would be subject to not only technical but also physical control. It is likely that there would also be some deployment of international forces,” noted the President of the Czech Republic.
At the same time, the Czech president suggested that a compromise on territorial issues could become part of the peace agreement, even if it means temporarily recognizing the Russian Federation’s control over certain regions, which contradicts international law. According to him, such territories should be considered temporarily occupied rather than part of Russia.
Security Guarantees and the Position of the Czech Republic
Petr Pavel emphasized that the final agreements regarding territories should be decided exclusively by Ukraine and Russia, and external countries should not interfere in these decisions. This position is also shared by the Czech Minister of Defense, Jana Černochová, who recently stated that the government is not currently considering sending Czech troops to Ukraine. According to her, if participation does occur, it may resemble the Czech experience in the former Yugoslavia – without direct presence on the line of conflict.
Defense Ministry spokesman David Šíma added that the involvement of Czech troops could be limited to training Ukrainian soldiers or assisting in demining. The final decision regarding the deployment of units will be made by the government and parliament of the country.
The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine remains key in the context of ending the war. Active discussions on this topic continue following meetings between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from the U.S. and European countries in Washington.
Media reports indicate that the United Kingdom, as part of the so-called coalition of willing nations, has proposed to deploy Typhoon fighters and a brigade for training purposes in western Ukraine, consisting of up to 5,000 military personnel. The possibility of participation from France, Canada, and Australia in similar initiatives on Ukrainian territory is also being considered.