RIAC-Visegrad-Report22-Eng

5. VISEGRAD–RUSSIAN RELATIONSAND THE UKRAINIAN CRISISUkraine. However, these voices were drowned out by the chorus condemning the“Russian intervention.”The following control check of official position in the Czech leadership took placein May 2014. In an interview to Parlamentní Lísty on May 9, 2014, the CzechPresident said: “I am against economic sanctions with regard to Russia becauseit’s useless. On the other hand, I am against the Russian invasion in EasternUkraine, but economic sanctions cannot stop it – only the NATO troops can doit.” Thus Miloš Zeman thought it possible to threaten Russia in order to prevent apossible invasion in Eastern Ukraine. 145Prague has not supported the inclusion of Crimea into Russia and does not support the manifestationsof separatism in Eastern Ukraine, the President said.On 9 May Miloš Zeman did not attend the traditional reception at the RussianEmbassy in Prague to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe. Praguehas not supported the inclusion of Crimea into Russia and does not supportthe manifestations of separatism in Eastern Ukraine, the President said. In hisopinion, referendums in Eastern Ukraine are illegitimate, although they did revealcertain sentiments among the Russian-speaking population.The Czech Foreign Ministry also refused to recognize the referendums outcomein Eastern Ukraine. It said that the vote further destabilized Ukraine and wasagainst the principles of international law, the Constitution and democracy.The Czech Foreign Ministry called for restoring law and order in South-EasternUkraine. Foreign Minister Zaoralek declared that the referendums on the selfdeterminationof the Donetsk and Lugansk regions would not solve Ukraine’sproblems and made no sense because they promoted the ideas of separatismat a time when the government was ready to negotiate decentralization of thecountry. However he did not rule out the possibility of diplomatic negotiationswith the regional representatives. Although Zaoralek admitted that not all of Kiev’sinitiatives and measures were successful, Moscow was to blame for the conflict.According to him, parties have to do their best to avoid Yugoslav scenario andstart comprehensive negotiations. As for the sanctions against Russia the Ministerbacked the EU decision to impose sanctions not only on individuals but also onthe companies, which are responsible for the “confiscation of Ukrainian propertyon the territory of occupied Crimea.” Zaoralek believes that the firms stealingUkrainian property should be severely punished.Appearing on Czech television on May 10, 2014, former Minister of ForeignAffairs of the Czech Republic and current leader of the TOP 09 Party (TOP standsfor “Tradice Odpovědnost Prosperita”, or “Tradition Responsibility Prosperity”)Karel Schwarzenberg suggested that immediately after Russia’s takeover ofCrimea, severe sanctions had to be applied to deter further Russian aggression.Schwarzenberg suggested that the takeover of Crimea diminished Putin’scredibility because Russian President had violated the Budapest Memorandumon Security Assurances. Under that Treaty, Ukraine in the 1990s voluntarily gave145Občanská válka se přiblížila. Zeman učinil prohlášení k Ukrajině i k české vládě. May 9, 2014. URL: http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/arena/rozhovory/Obcanska-valka-se-priblizila-Zeman-ucinil-prohlaseni-k-Ukrajine-i-k-ceske-vlade-318336(in Czech).www.russiancouncil.ru49