Czech President Petr Pavel has said that the temporary occupation of some Ukrainian territories could be an acceptable cost for preserving Ukraine’s statehood and saving lives.
He said this in an interview with the BBC, according to Ukrinform.
Pavel, who previously served as a senior NATO commander, stated that Ukraine, even with comprehensive support from Western allies, would not be able to liberate the occupied territories in a short period without suffering major losses.
He said that it would be unfair for the West to pressure Ukraine into immediately reclaiming all its occupied land, explaining that the goal should be to ensure the survival of the Ukrainian people and their nation. According to him, if the cost of restoring Ukraine as an independent and autonomous state involves accepting the temporary occupation of part of its territory — without legal recognition — then such a compromise might have to be accepted. However, he insisted that the international community should never recognize these territories as legally Russian.
Pavel also stressed that there were currently no practical means of dislodging Russian forces from occupied Ukrainian territories without triggering immense casualties and destruction. He noted that Russia, with its vast military and human resources, represented a particularly difficult adversary, especially since it was backed by a powerful economic partner like China.
Despite this, he emphasized the continued need for military support to Ukraine. He said that under the Czech ammunition initiative, Ukraine had received about 1.5 million large-caliber rounds in the previous year. This year, that figure is expected to rise to 1.8 million, including approximately 800,000 155mm shells. He said this would guarantee Ukraine an average monthly supply of 80,000 shells, which he described as a substantial amount for effective defense and operational planning.
Pavel also added that the war could not be won solely through military means. He said that economic, financial, and other non-lethal instruments, especially those that could be deployed jointly by Europe and the United States, would be far more effective. According to him, it is in the interest of both sides of the Atlantic to apply significantly greater economic pressure on Russia. He said that, given the current condition of the Russian economy, Moscow would be unable to withstand such pressure indefinitely and would eventually be compelled to engage in negotiations.
Pavel emphasized the importance of including Europe in any future peace negotiations, noting that Russian leader Vladimir Putin views U.S. President Donald Trump as his only legitimate negotiating counterpart and seeks to exclude European actors from the process. However, Pavel stressed that Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table, as the outcome of the war would have profound implications for the continent’s collective security.
Photo: Petr Pavel / Facebook
