The President of the Czech Republic believes that Ukraine can join NATO with temporarily occupied territories.

In an interview, the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, said: “I believe that full restoration of control over the entire territory is not necessary for Ukraine’s membership in NATO. If it comes to distinction or the formation of some administrative border, then we will be able to perceive this administrative border as temporary and accept Ukraine into NATO within the limits that it will control at that time.” In this context, he cited Germany as an example; the Soviet Union controlled the eastern part, and the western part was accepted into NATO as early as 1955. “Therefore, I believe that there is both a technical and a legal solution to allow Ukraine to join NATO without bringing NATO into conflict with Russia,” the Czech president said. In addition, Pavel expects that Ukraine will negotiate peace with Russia in the coming years. World powers – the US, China, and the EU – will contribute to this process. Such an agreement would mean the the partial occupation Ukraine for an extended time, although democratic states would not recognize the changes to borders.