Minister Lipavský arrived in Brussels on Sunday, where he attended a ministerial meeting on efforts to implement a two-state solution in the Middle East. At the meeting, the Minister confirmed the Czech Republic's unequivocal support for Palestinian statehood aspirations. After the event, the Minister moved on to a meeting of the ministers of the eastern wing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the so-called “Bucharest Nine”.

“We addressed how to further strengthen our common defence. It is important that we go to the July summit in Washington in a coordinated manner,” the Czech diplomatic chief noted.

At a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday, Minister Lipavský called for a strategic approach to Russia. He also stressed the need to contain Russian imperialism, which is currently committing crimes in Ukraine.

“Russia is constantly escalating the situation. The remove buoys marking the country's border on the Narva River, sabotage, bombing of civilian targets. We urgently need to develop a strategy to contain Putinism,” said Minister Lipavsky, adding that he would also appeal to NATO allies on this issue during an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Prague at the end of the week.

In addition to that, the ministers also discussed developments in Georgia. They also met with their counterparts from Arab countries to discuss the situation in Palestine. On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister met his French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné.