Czech Republic: "We refuse to be called anywhere by Russia"

Russia initiated an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the shelling of Belgorod, but the Czech Republic refused to attend it at Russia’s request.

Russia claims that Czech weapons systems were used for the shelling and demanded the participation of the Czech Republic, but Prague refused, writes “European truth”. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the UN, said that Russia asked for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after explosions in the center of Belgorod December 30 with civilian casualties. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Czech Vampire MLRS shells were allegedly used during the shelling:

“We insist on the presence of the Czech Republic to explain why this country’s ammunition is being used to kill civilians in Belgorod.”

Jan Lipavsky, the Czech Foreign Minister, responded by calling Moscow’s claims propaganda and saying that Prague would not participate in the meeting:

“We refuse to have Russia summon us anywhere. The Czech Republic will not serve the aggressor’s propaganda with poisoned lies. We will be happy to come to the meeting when Russia wants to discuss the withdrawal of its occupation forces in the Security Council.”

Later, the official response of the Deputy Czech Permanent Representative to the UN was published:

“The Czech Republic regrets every loss of life due to Russia’s illegal and senseless war of aggression, which it has been waging against Ukraine for almost two years. Russia alone is responsible for tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Russia has repeatedly used the UN Security Council platform to spread disinformation and propaganda about the war. We have no reason to believe that today’s briefing will be any different, so the Czech Republic will not participate. The clear and long-standing position of the Czech Republic is that Russia must immediately end this war and withdraw troops from all territory of Ukraine. This is the only way towards a just and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter.”

On December 30, Russia reported 20 dead and more than a hundred injured due to shelling of the city. The Ukrainian special services reported that the Ukrainian defense forces were working on Russian military facilities in the Belgorod region, but due to “unprofessional air defense actions” and “planned provocations,” debris fell in the city center.

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