Czechia strongly condemns this act, which it does not recognise and will not recognise in the future. It reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and territorial waters. As the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, it will work to ensure a strong and united response to this illegal and illegitimate move.

At the same time, by announcing mobilisation and threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, the Russian Federation is escalating an already highly dangerous security situation in Europe, which it has caused itself by its non-provoked war of aggression against Ukraine. Once again, we strongly urge the Russian Federation to stop this war and withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine immediately.

Czechia, like the entire civilised world, condemns the crimes committed by the Russian armed forces in the occupied territories of Ukraine. The manipulated public vote is only a parody on a possibility of a free expression of the real will of the Ukrainian citizens living there, who are instead being intimidated, exposed to the inhuman manipulation, brutal torture ad mass-killing.  It is another reason why Czechia will continue to call for a creation of a special international tribunal to bring to justice all official representatives of the Russian federation responsible for the non-provoked war of aggression against the neighbouring state aiming to destroy its free existence.  

Despite all Kremlin´s threats, Czechia will continue to support Ukraine and its citizens in their just defence against Russia's criminal aggression and in their fight for liberating all occupied territories. Ukraine is also fighting for us, for the values on which our society is built. The Czech Republic has had its own unfortunate historical experience of appeasing an aggressor. Aggression must be fought against. Ukraine must remain free and independent.