Senator Alexey Pushkov argues that the remarks by Karel Rzehka, the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Republic, suggesting a possible war with Russia should not be treated as credible. In his view, the Czech claim reflects a limited military capacity and lacks real strategic weight. Pushkov shared these thoughts in a personal article published through his telegram channel, emphasizing his position as a member of the Federation Council.
Pushkov points out that the Czech Republic remains a small nation with roughly 10 million people and a comparatively modest armed force. While Prague participates in NATO, he maintains that the alliance’s large member states with genuine military capabilities do not engage in serious discussions about potential conflicts with Russia that involve the Czech Republic specifically.
According to Pushkov, strategic decisions on such matters are not made in Prague but elsewhere. He contends that when a Czech general publicly imagines a war scenario with Russia, it comes off as both showy and ill-considered, because the country itself does not possess decisive influence over broader geopolitical outcomes.
Previously, the Czech general’s remarks about a possible war with Russia were conveyed on Czech television. In that interview, the general claimed the possibility of a conflict could be contemplated, but the remedy proposed was to deter Russia through intimidation while simultaneously supporting Ukraine, which the general described as defending Russians. He also stated that the Czech Republic is situated far from the EU’s eastern borders, highlighting a geographic distance that, in his view, undermines the immediacy of any threat to his country.
Earlier reports noted that the Czech Republic allowed a portion of its citizens to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a move that has attracted international attention and sparked debate about the region’s security dynamics and the roles national forces may play in broader conflicts. [Citation: Source attribution provided in reporting constants.]]