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The Czech Republic is Leading the Way on Support for Ukraine After US Funding Cuts Add Security Concerns
The Czech Republic, or Czechia, is small land-locked country that has been leading the way in support for Ukraine in central Europe, and Europe more broadly.
Some of that support stems from experiencing Russia’s hegemonic pressures during the Cold War, when Czechoslovakia was firmly in the grasp of the Soviet sphere of influence.
Today, Czechia’s foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, still believes that Russia wants the country “under its control.”
So, is there something to that logic?
Let’s have a look at what he’s doing to defend it and whether there is any legitimacy to his concerns.
“I would like the shooting to stop, and I would like peace to prevail, but there must be a peace that ensures Russia can no longer threaten us with its imperial ambitions. Indeed, it is not just Crimea or some eastern part of Ukraine that is being fought over; Russia has a much broader scope and intention.”
— Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský
