President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic, a former NATO general and staunch supporter of Ukraine, claimed that Ukraine may need to accept a partial loss of territory to Russia, at least temporarily, The New York Times reported on 23 September.
In an interview, Pavel said, “The most probable outcome of the war will be that a part of Ukrainian territory will be under Russian occupation, temporarily.” He added that this “temporary thing” could last for years.
The Czech president cited several factors contributing to this situation, including “Russia-friendly populist leaders such as Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary disrupting European unity over the war” and the “fatigue of 31 months of conflict growing everywhere.”
The Czech presidency, while largely ceremonial, carries weight in security matters due to Pavel’s background as a former chief of the Czech military’s general staff and past chairman of NATO’s military committee.
Pavel’s views diverge from the public stance of many European officials, who maintain that the shape of any future settlement with Russia is Kyiv’s decision. However, he argues that neither Ukraine nor Russia can expect to achieve their maximalist goals.
The Czech president’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among some European leaders and populations. According to a poll cited in the article, nearly two-thirds of Czechs would support a quick end to the war in Ukraine, even if it meant some territory remaining under Russian control.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to appeal for more military and political support at the United Nations General Assembly and present a “victory plan” to President Biden in Washington.
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