The Czech Republic remains one of Ukraine's most powerful advocates

14.05.2025 0 By Writer.NS

Exclusive. Soon, tectonic shifts to the right may occur in the Czech Republic. And let's be honest, such a demand has been formed in Czech society at the moment. We will read more than once that this should not have been done. But for now, we can only say one thing – bow to you, friendly country, for your support and devotion to the common goal!

The Czech Republic's assistance to Ukraine is a significant contribution to the overall fight against terrorism

President Zelensky visited the Czech Republic last week primarily for talks with Czech President Petr Pavel. Zelensky also met with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate Leader Miloš Vystrčil, Speaker Marketa Pekarová Adamová, and arms manufacturers.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Petr Pavel first of all discussed issues related to the war against Russian terrorism, the prospects for peace negotiations and all other possible ways of assistance. "For us, the situation has not changed over the past three years. It remains unchanged. If Russia wins this war, it will have serious negative consequences directly for us. If Russia is rewarded for its actions, its behavior will be confirmed. This will signal that the way Russia conducts international relations is acceptable, and it will continue to do so. Therefore, it is in our interests that when peace negotiations begin, the aggressor is not rewarded and the victim is not punished," the Czech president said.

He also noted that it is impossible to deploy foreign troops in Ukraine until a peace agreement is reached.

The Ukrainian president emphasized that the Czech Republic is doing everything possible to help stop Russian aggression, and also touched on the Czech initiative on ammunition, according to which Ukraine could receive up to 1,8 million additional large-caliber rounds during the year.

Pavel assured Zelensky that the Czech Republic will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"We will support Ukraine in its pursuit of EU and NATO membership, as we believe it is right that a country with which we share values and long-term strategic interests should have access to the same coalitions as we do and the same opportunities that we had in the 1990s."

Zelensky expressed Ukraine's gratitude for the Czech Republic's support for its European aspirations and emphasized that Ukraine needs stronger sanctions against Russia, continued support, and significantly strengthened cooperation in the field of mutual defense across Europe.

At a meeting with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the Czech Republic's attitude towards Ukraine. Pekarova Adamova noted that by stopping Russian aggression, Ukrainian soldiers saved all of Europe.

Zelensky and Marketa Pekarova Adamova

"The President warmly acknowledged our support for Ukraine in many areas, not only in the form of the [Czech] ammunition initiative, which will continue and is crucial for Ukraine on the battlefield, but also thanked us for our humanitarian support, particularly in the health sector."

At a press briefing following the talks, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala assured the President of Ukraine that the Czech Republic would continue to stand firmly by Ukraine's side in the fight against Russian aggression: "We admire the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people throughout the Russian aggression. I would also like to express our admiration and support here. At the same time, I would like to thank the citizens of the Czech Republic for their support for Ukraine since the beginning of the aggression, for their assistance to Ukraine through their own fundraising initiatives, and for their support of Czech policy in assisting Ukraine and countering Russia's aggressive policy."

Finally, representatives of both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of mental health. The project aims to make significant changes in the research and development of state psychiatric care in Ukraine.

Ordinary Czechs want a speedy end to the war, not support for Ukraine

This is the conclusion of a study conducted in April by the research organization STEM. The data obtained indicate, in particular, the low trust of Czechs in US President Donald Trump, who promised to end Russia's war against Ukraine, says the organization's analyst Jiri Taborsky. "Although the Czech public has long and consistently wanted an end to the fighting, few believe in a possible ceasefire this year, which was one of Trump's promises," he emphasizes. As for whether the Czech Republic should support Ukraine in returning the occupied territories and at the cost of continuing the war, or, conversely, seek a quick end to the fighting, about two-thirds of Czechs have long held a stable opinion: the fighting should end as soon as possible.

Only 30 percent support the option — the Czech Republic should support Ukraine in returning the lost territories, even though this could prolong the conflict. And 70 percent are inclined to the opposite — the Czech Republic should seek a quick end to the conflict, even though this could mean that some Ukrainian territories would remain with Russia. Since June 2023, when analysts began asking this question, from 28 to 38 percent of respondents have expressed their full support for Ukraine, and from 62 to 72 percent have expressed their support for a quick end with the loss of Ukrainian territories to Russia.

At the same time, Czechs do not believe in a quick end to the war. Achieving a stable ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of 2025 was considered probable by 15 percent of respondents, while 72 percent considered it unlikely (the rest could not give an answer).

When asked what the European Union should do if US steps to achieve peace fail, 54 percent of respondents prefer to participate in diplomatic negotiations to end the war and defend Ukrainian interests against Russian interests in them, while 30 percent disagree. 51 percent of respondents agree to take the initiative and use available means — diplomatic, economic, and military — to decide what outcome of the war will be the result of the negotiations, while 31 percent disagree. 48 percent want to increase spending on their own weapons in order to ensure their defense capabilities without having to rely entirely on US assistance, while 40 percent do not.

The option that the EU should increase military aid to Ukraine and thereby replace American aid is liked by only 33 percent of those surveyed. 54 percent do not like it.

The STEM think tank survey was conducted on April 8-17, and 1031 Czech citizens over the age of 18 participated. Respondents were selected using a representative quota sample; the margin of error is not indicated.

But giving up territory does not mean appeasing the aggressor. The Czech Republic, then Czechoslovakia, itself has experience of giving up part of its territory: in the fall of 1938, it was forced to do so by its allies to satisfy Adolf Hitler's appetites and prevent the expected war. It did not help: a little over half a year later, the Nazis had occupied the rest of the Czech Republic (and installed a puppet pro-Nazi regime in Slovakia). And half a year later, Nazi Germany and Stalin's USSR ignited World War II with a coordinated attack on Poland.

And now, many politicians and observers are convinced that even the probable satisfaction of the Kremlin's, and Putin's in particular, territorial claims to Ukraine will not lead to lasting peace, but only to a new war in the coming years with the aim of seizing more territories, and not only in Ukraine.

Kremlin propaganda spends huge amounts of money around the world, finding new sympathizers. Morality is not a great value these days, unfortunately, and money solves most problems.

Ukrainian propaganda and at the same time Kremlin anti-propaganda do not exist at all. Once a year, Vyshyvanka Day around the world is absolutely nothing, since the aesthetic procession of beautiful people in vyshyvankas quickly disappears from people's memory under the showers of Russian lies and falsifications in all the languages of the world. That is why it is so difficult for us to overcome all the obstacles to our victory, since the societies of well-fed Europe do not really want to oppress themselves in anything. And history was taught badly, and miracles do not happen. Adolf Hitler is smiling contentedly somewhere in hell.

Inflation slowed in the Czech Republic

Consumer prices in the Czech Republic rose by 1,8 percent year-on-year in April. Thus, inflation slowed down (2,7 percent in March). The last time the inflation rate was lower was in March 2018. According to the preliminary estimate of the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), prices fell by 0,1 percent compared to the previous month. Analysts had expected annual inflation to be slightly above two percent. The CSSO will publish the final figures on May 13.

In the energy category, which includes fuel, April prices show a decline. In March, energy prices fell by 4,9 percent, and in April by 6,3 percent. Excluding the dynamics of energy prices, overall inflation in the Czech Republic in April would have reached three percent.

The growth in prices for food, alcohol and tobacco slowed to 3,3 percent in April from 5,9 percent in March. For industrial goods, inflation fell from 1,6 percent to 0,2 percent. In contrast, the growth in services increased from 4,5 percent in March to 4,7 percent in April.

Czech National Bank

The CSSO published its preliminary inflation estimate this year due to long-term demand from the financial market, in particular from the Czech National Bank. Vice President and Governor of the CNB, Eva Zamrazilová, supported the publication of the preliminary estimate, calling it important information for the bank's Board of Directors' decisions on setting interest rates.

Analysts said they had expected annual inflation to slow to 2,1 percent, citing significantly lower fuel prices as the main reason.

According to Vita Gradil, an economist at investment group Investika, the sudden decline in inflation from 2,7 percent in March to the current 1,8 percent was largely due to the base effect. “Last year in April, food and alcohol prices increased significantly compared to the previous month, while this year the trend was the opposite. The latest data is not as shocking in terms of inflation trends as it might seem at first glance,” he said.

This seemingly boring information, numbers, only shows one thing - in a democratic country with a proper market economy, economic laws work and you can get acquainted with the results in a transparent way.

Babis' victory in 2025 will make the Czech Republic a "Russia-friendly" country

Andrey Babish

As you know, the Czech opposition party ANO won a landslide victory in the regional and senate elections in the Czech Republic. And while the whole world is preoccupied with the results of the US elections, which took place more than 100 days ago, Politico calls for a wake-up call and realize that the victory of ANO leader Andrej Babis will make the Czech Republic pro-Kremlin. The Czech Republic could join the bloc of Central European countries friendly to Russia, and this bloc is gradually growing. Such a result will be significant for the EU after the possible return to power of the leader of the opposition party ANO Andrej Babis after the parliamentary elections in 2025.

Today, unfortunately, Babis can be called the most influential Czech politician, who has decisively steered his party to the right, which reinforces the rhetoric of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico, known for their pro-Kremlin position. Such a shift could result in reduced aid to Ukraine, further complicating the EU's efforts to create a united front against Russian aggression.

ANO's victory in recent regional elections has been a wake-up call for the Czech government and Brussels. ANO also gained membership in the right-wing Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, together with Orbán's Fidesz party and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which led to the departure of liberal-minded members.

“The pro-Moscow Eastern bloc will make it harder to reach consensus on issues such as aid to Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and migration,” warns Politico. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky expressed concern, saying, “The ANO movement is just a puppet of Orban. They have definitely found friends among the pro-Russian nationalists and xenophobes in the European Parliament.”

It is worth recalling that after his defeat in the 2021 parliamentary elections, the 70-year-old Babis took up the provocative rhetoric typical of far-right leaders. He accused the EU of inflating energy prices, criticized military support for Ukraine, and strongly opposed illegal migration, proposing to deploy armed forces along southern European beaches to address the problem.

Babis’s position on Ukraine is most disconcerting, as he has stated that “Ukraine will never become a member of the EU.” In addition, MEPs from the ANO party abstained or simply did not vote on resolutions in support of Ukraine, including approving the provision of Western weapons against Russian terror.

In 2025, a coalition formed by Andrej Babiš together with Czech far-right parties such as Freedom and Direct Democracy or Oath and Motorists would allow him to do whatever he deems appropriate in foreign and European policy,” according to Petr Kanjok, director of the International Institute of Political Science at Masaryk University in Brno.

ANO MEP Ondrej Knotek rejected claims that the party is pro-Russian. “Any attempts to label us as pro-Russian, pro-Chinese or, frankly, even pro-Antarctic are simply motivated by concerns about our growth as the third largest group in the Parliament,” Knotek said last week.