Europe must be tough on Trump to help Ukraine – Czech foreign minister

Europe must be tough on US President-elect Donald Trump if it wants to prove something to him and persuade him to help Ukraine, said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský noted in an interview with European Pravda that one thing is known about Trump: he is a tough guy.

"If we, as Europe, want to prove something to him, maybe to convince him of something, we need to be tough too," Lipavský said, adding that Ukraine is tough.

"Ukraine is so tough that it was not three days, even not three months – and I am sure it wonʼt be two years – until Russia is able to subjugate it. So I expect toughness," Lipavský said.

At the same time, the minister emphasised the need to wait for the final composition of Trump's administration.

"We know many names, we hear some speculations. Some names have even been dropped. We need to wait."

The Czech foreign minister says it will be necessary to convince Trump's team that the war is not just about Russia and Ukraine, that it is a global affair that affects food security and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Now, with North Korean soldiers attacking also the Ukrainian army. So it is something we need to be able to explain and to act accordingly," he added.

Lipavský is also convinced that tough behaviour will not cause a response: "This is something [toughness] which is respected in a world such as we are living in."

Jan Lipavský said that no one knows whether US President-elect Donald Trump will stop helping Ukraine, but even if he does, he will not do so suddenly.

The media reported that Europe is calling on the Biden administration to strengthen US support for Ukraine to bolster Kyiv's position as much as possible before Donald Trump's inauguration in January.