Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky emphasized the need for Europe to engage the United States in security debates and find ways to bring it closer to Ukraine following the halt of US military aid to Kyiv. Speaking on Tuesday, Lipavsky highlighted the importance of Europe being prepared to replace US support for Ukraine and focusing on European security with its own resources.
The Czech government has already begun discussions to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP in the coming years, up from around 2% in 2024. Additionally, the Czech Republic has led an ammunition drive since last year to source supplies from around the world to aid Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion. Lipavsky noted that the initiative had secured deliveries for the coming months and was seeking further funding from donor countries.
The suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, following a heated exchange between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, has left Europe scrambling to address security issues. On Tuesday, the European Commission proposed borrowing up to 150 billion euros ($157.76 billion) to lend to EU governments under a rearmament plan driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine and concerns over the reliability of US protection.
In an interview, Lipavsky welcomed the European Commission’s package, describing it as a solid basis for the upcoming EU summit on Thursday, which will focus on Ukraine and security. He stressed the importance of continuing to engage with the US on European security and finding ways to bring Ukraine and the US closer together.
“We should not give up on the US, definitely not. But this is the reality, and we have to do what we can,” Lipavsky said.
At the EU summit, Lipavsky expects clear positions from all 27 member states to guide the way forward on security issues. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been at odds with the EU on support for Ukraine, has urged the bloc to start direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire and abandon plans for a joint declaration at the summit. Similarly, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has called the bloc’s “peace through force” strategy for Ukraine unrealistic.
While the US under President Trump has initiated talks with Russia on ending the war, these discussions have excluded both Kyiv and the EU. Lipavsky emphasized the need for Ukraine to be at the negotiating table and called for a fair and lasting peace, warning that past ceasefires between Kyiv and Moscow had not been successful.
“The core interest of the Czech Republic and, I hope, most European countries is to make sure that we will stop Russian imperialism, that we will protect the principles that borders are not changed by brute force,” Lipavsky said.