Czech President Petr Pavel says Ukraine has two months to restart peace talks

Czech President Petr Pavel warned that Ukraine has roughly two months to revive peace negotiations with Russia before the situation could worsen dramatically. Speaking after the NATO summit in Ankara, Pavel said Russian President Vladimir Putin may consider a general mobilisation after Russia’s parliamentary elections on 20 September, but the window for such a move is narrowing.

Pavel highlighted internal pressures on Russia, including public discontent over fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and a decline in Putin’s approval ratings. He urged Western allies to intensify diplomatic and military pressure on Moscow to push it toward negotiations, noting that continued Ukrainian attacks on deep‑inside Russian targets increase the likelihood of Russian willingness to talk.

He also called on NATO to expand long‑range weapons production to meet demand and to ensure the alliance can deter any potential Russian escalation. The president’s remarks aim to coordinate a stronger, unified response from the alliance to compel Russia back to the negotiating table before the alleged mobilisation deadline.