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24. 2. 2022 10:54

Statement by Prime Minister Petr Fiala on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 24 February 2022

Ladies and gentlemen, Europe has found itself in a situation that many have not been able to imagine until recently. The unprovoked Russian military aggression, the invasion of Ukraine, can only be described as an act of aggression against a sovereign state. I unequivocally condemn the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and these actions cannot go unanswered. I would like to call on all Czech citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Kiev has now been temporarily closed, but consular assistance to Czech citizens is provided by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Lviv.

The Government has been actively negotiating since the morning. I am in contact with individual ministers. Crisis staffs hold meetings in the relevant ministries. I am also communicating with the association of governors and with all branches of the state that are relevant to addressing security and humanitarian issues.

Dear fellow citizens, I know that this is an unexpected and stressful situation for many of you. You are turning to me to express your deep concern. I want to assure you that there is no information or indication at the moment that our country is in any imminent danger. There is no immediate danger to our country or to our citizens. Fortunately, we are a part of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, which guarantees our security. We will deal intensively with the impact of the Russian aggression and our reaction, which is why I convened a meeting of the National Security Council today, which will address the country's current situation, preparations for further development and coordination of further action by individual ministries.

In the evening, I will fly to Brussels for an extraordinary European Council meeting, where, in line with the position of the Government of the Czech Republic, I will advocate the toughest possible sanctions against Russia and a unified approach by the European Union. The National Security Council meets at 11 a.m. Afterwards, I will address a press conference with my colleagues to answer your questions. Thank you for your attention.

Petr Fiala, Prime Minister

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Statement by Prime Minister Petr Fiala on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 24 February 2022

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