The minister of industry and trade, Jan Mládek, says the Czech government
wishes to see the European Union take a unified position on Russia after
its military incursion into Ukraine’s Crimea region. Speaking on a TV
debate show on Sunday, Mr. Mládek said the worst alternative would be for
the EU to adopt a radical policy pushed by some states but then not to
adhere to it; Russia wishes to see a split between European states, he
said. The minister also said he saw a parallel between the situation
surrounding Crimea and Kosovo’s split from Serbia; this view is opposed
by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who is also chair of Mr. Mládek’s
party the Social Democrats.