Russia's aggression, which has its roots in the occupation of Crimea and the triggering of the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine in 2014, is a constant threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire free world. Ukraine has been facing Russian aggression for many years, defending its right to freely choose its path of development and paying a heavy price for it in the form of daily human and material sacrifices.

We support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The borders of states cannot be changed by force - we will continue to consider Crimea and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which are currently illegally occupied by the Russian army, as indivisible parts of Ukraine. Any future agreements must reflect this indisputable fact.

A just and lasting peace must be achieved in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter. With deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives resulting from the Russian invasion, we reiterate that the primary purpose of the United Nations, as enshrined in the UN Charter, is to maintain international peace and security and to resolve disputes peacefully. Peace cannot be achieved by yielding to the aggressor. Through its aggression, Russia not only seeks to destroy Ukraine but also to weaken our freedom, prosperity, and the security architecture in Europe, thereby attempting to undermine NATO and the EU.

Czech Republic will continue to stand by Ukraine and provide it with all the necessary assistance, including support on its path to restoring its territorial integrity and integrating into Euro-Atlantic structures. The equation is simple. Supporting Ukraine is tantamount to strengthening Europe's security, and Czech diplomacy will do everything possible to strengthen that security through its actions.