Czech foreign minister: Russia's ultimatums are not a way to hold negotiations

The Slavkov format member states – Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia – stand firmly on Ukraine's side.

"We are here with the only clear message: we stand on Ukraine's side in the current situation, we support its territorial integrity and sovereignty. We are here to express solidarity, involvement, and support. We are here to give a clear signal that the choice of where Ukraine should move remains with Ukrainians… Ukraine's security is the security of the whole of Europe," Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský said at a joint briefing with Dmytro Kuleba, Alexander Schallenberg, and Ivan Korčok in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He noted that Ukrainians, having chosen the path of rapprochement with the West, should be able to fulfill their dream. According to him, Russia is currently trying to play the card when Ukraine's future is at stake. "But we do not want to make concessions. These demands of Russia are absolutely not a way to hold negotiations," the diplomat stated.

Lipavský added that the territorial integrity of countries is an integral part of the European security architecture. The Czech top diplomat said that "the annexation of Crimea was an illegal act, Crimea is Ukraine, and this must be reiterated again and again."

The Czech foreign minister called his country a strong partner of Ukraine, mentioning humanitarian aid, support for economic transformation, and the recent provision of military ammunition and equipment.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korčok confirmed that the visit of the three foreign ministers "is a sign of triple solidarity". According to him, Ukraine has a free choice of its development and has already made progress on this path. "Ukraine does not pose a threat to anyone. We do not understand or share the argument that Ukraine's aspiration for NATO membership is a threat to Russia," Korčok said. He pointed out the need to respect the guiding principles on which Europe has been built since 1989.

Speaking about Slovakia's assistance to Ukraine, the diplomat mentioned, in particular, Slovak projects in Stanytsia Luhanska, an emergency medical station, and more. He also noted that the Slovak GTS provided "double capacity" for pumping gas through its territory to Ukraine and expressed readiness to "analyze the possibility of the commercial viability of such a project."

The program of the joint visit of the ministers to Ukraine includes meetings with the leadership of Ukraine, foreign minister Kuleba, representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, visits to Kharkiv city and the line of contact in Luhansk region, etc.

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