Europe must take its own security seriously to be respected by the new Donald Trump administration in Washington and must continue to fund the Ukrainian war effort until Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to certain demands including reparations, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has said.
In an exclusive interview with RND on the sidelines of the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels this week, Lipavsky discussed the future of the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine, potential peace negotiations led by former U.S. President Donald Trump, and increasing pressure on Russian diplomats within the EU.
The Czech Republic launched a global ammunition procurement initiative last year to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. When asked about plans for 2025, Lipavsky reaffirmed the country’s commitment to supplying Ukraine with crucial military resources.
“In 2024, we were able to deliver 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, including about a third of 155mm caliber shells,” Lipavsky said. “This played an important role in achieving parity on the battlefield. Before that, the ammunition ratio was 1:10 in favor of Russia. With our help, it became 1:1. We know the war will continue, and we must keep supplying ammunition in 2025.”
While Lipavsky did not specify exact numbers for this year’s deliveries, he emphasized that the priority was to meet Ukraine’s needs. “We are currently examining financing options for the new initiative and will then determine how much ammunition we can procure,” he stated.
When asked about potential delays in obtaining and delivering ammunition, Lipavsky acknowledged the complexity of the process but insisted that it ultimately depends on political commitment.
“This is a very complex project that mainly depends on political will and financing. If the funds are there, we can procure the ammunition. Delivery times vary depending on origin and condition — some ammunition may need adaptation or reprocessing before it can be reliably used in Ukraine,” he explained.
Lipavsky assured that there is still a global supply of ammunition that could be acquired. “It is a question of political will. If many EU member states support our initiative again, we can achieve significant results for Ukraine,” he said.
With Donald Trump’s potential return to the U.S. presidency and his expressed intent to end the war swiftly, Lipavsky urged European nations to remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine.
“We should do exactly the opposite [of stepping back]. We must continue supporting Ukraine. Trump’s words — ‘Peace through strength’ — should be taken seriously. Europe must be able to ensure its own security with its own political commitment and determination. If we fail to do so, someone else will make the decisions for us, and not in our favor,” Lipavsky warned.
Regarding speculation about a possible peace agreement negotiated between Trump and Putin, Lipavsky stressed that any deal must ensure lasting and just peace, and any agreement must see the Russian president agree to demands for reparations to rebuild Ukraine and his acknowledgment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as leader of a sovereign Ukraine.
“The negotiations are not just about territorial demands. It is about basic principles, such as the question of whether Russian war criminals are pursued or not. Many war criminals are back in Russia and difficult. We also have to pay Putin for what he destroyed in Ukraine, and Ukraine has to remain a sovereign state with Volodymyr Zelensky as a sovereign president,” he said.
He also warned against Russia’s diplomatic maneuvers: “Putin, his Foreign Minister Lavrov, and other propagandists refuse to negotiate directly with Ukraine. Instead, they speak to leaders like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz or the U.S. president, trying to sideline Ukraine. We must not fall into this trap.”
Lipavsky outlined new measures to curb Russian influence in Europe, including restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU.
“We will push for the 16th sanctions package to limit the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats. We have identified at least 2,000 individuals — diplomats, their families, and service staff — who form an unprecedented network used by Russian intelligence for sabotage in the EU. This is unacceptable,” he stated.
The Czech minister clarified that while diplomatic relations with Russia remain, EU nations are not obligated to provide unrestricted access. “If this restriction is implemented, Russian diplomats will need visas to travel between EU countries. Intelligence services would then be aware of their movements, and unauthorized travel could result in expulsion,” Lipavsky explained.
With an upcoming trip to the United States in early February, Lipavsky highlighted the importance of European unity in its approach to Trump’s potential return to power.
“Europe must remain united and avoid division. We must prevent trade tariffs through dialogue and possibly by making an attractive offer. Under no circumstances can we risk a trade war,” he cautioned.
Lipavsky also emphasized the need for Europe to increase defense spending. “To be taken seriously by the U.S., we must show that we take our own security seriously. This may be unpopular in domestic debates, but it is necessary,” he said.