Ukraine's defeat will lead to Putin's 'special military operations' in Central and Eastern Europe - Czech Foreign Minister 

This was stated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky during a speech at the Louis University during his visit to Hungary, Ukrinform reports.

"It is naive to think that if Russia won in Ukraine, its tanks would stop at our borders. Moscow's goal is not only to destroy Ukraine and assimilate it with its cruel thinking as a purely Russian territory. It is about undermining our part of Europe. It wants to kidnap the West back into its world of tyranny and disorder, traditions and behavior... Ukraine's defeat will bring the winner new resources and open the gates for other 'special military operations' in Central and Eastern Europe," the Czech diplomat stressed.

He emphasized that the future of Europe is at stake and if Russia is allowed to destroy Ukraine and goes unpunished, "other predators around the world will follow suit".

Ukraine, he stressed, is fighting for its survival, but it is also fighting on behalf of the European nations.

Lipavsky reminded that today in Ukraine, people are being killed by the same tanks that the fathers and grandfathers of the current generation witnessed on the streets of Budapest and Prague.

"The situation is changing, and Russia's imperial cruelty continues. Just as in 1956, 1968 or 1981, Russia's rulers believe that they are the only ones who decide the fate of the nations within their reach. As before, Moscow knows only one way to deal with those who oppose it — to defeat them," he said.

The Czech foreign minister noted that Russia's imperial ambitions have no limits unless they are set and recalled the words of former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who once said: "The problem with Russia for many centuries is that Russia does not know exactly where it begins and where it ends. If allowed, Russia would not hesitate to take on the territories of the former Eastern Bloc.

Lipavsky believes that in the two years of Russian aggression, the conflict in Ukraine has turned into a war of attrition.

"This is a decisive moment! We must remain focused on Ukraine's defense needs and increase pressure on Russia and its allies through sanctions. We must continue to conduct active and intelligent multilateral diplomacy," he said, noting that as Hungary prepares for its second presidency of the Council of the European Union, he stressed that the central issue will be how to deal with Russia's aggression against the West.

The day before, he held talks with his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto.

• Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto said that Budapest would block €2 billion in EU aid to Ukraine.