EditUkraine summons Czech envoy as political rhetoric sparks bilateral tensions
Diplomacy struggles to extinguish the fire set up by Czech far-right leader who called the government in Kyiv "Zelenskyy junta"
A diplomatic row between Ukraine and the Czech Republic has highlighted growing tensions over support for Kyiv, the limits of political rhetoric, and the role of diplomats in responding to controversial statements by senior officials, EUalive’s partner Suspilne reports.
The dispute was triggered by comments from Tomio Okamura, speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, who in his New Year’s address referred to Ukraine as being run by a “Zelenskyy junta” and criticised financial assistance to Kyiv as support for a “senseless war”. The remarks prompted a swift reaction from Ukraine’s ambassador to Prague, Vasyl Zvarych, who described the speech as offensive and influenced by Russian propaganda.
Kyiv has since announced it will summon the Czech Republic’s chargé d’affaires in what the Ukrainian foreign ministry described as a “mirror” response to Prague’s decision to summon the Ukrainian ambassador, accused by Prague for being undiplomatic. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said the move was necessary to clarify what he called “unacceptable statements” by the speaker of the Czech parliament.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials have sought to limit the fallout. Tykhyi stressed that Kyiv values its strategic partnership with Prague and insisted that “shameful statements by individual politicians” should not damage bilateral cooperation, particularly amid what he described as extraordinary security challenges facing both countries and Europe as a whole.
The Czech government’s reaction has been more nuanced. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka criticised Zvarych for publicly responding to Okamura’s remarks, arguing that it was inappropriate for a foreign ambassador to comment on statements made by a senior constitutional figure and that such concerns should be raised through diplomatic channels. Finance Minister Alena Schillerova echoed this tone, saying Ukraine should show “more modesty” given that the Czech Republic had accepted, in her words, one of the highest numbers of Ukrainian refugees per capita.
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Kyiv pushed back strongly against this line. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said ambassadors are explicitly tasked with defending Ukraine’s dignity abroad and praised Zvarych’s response as both appropriate and diplomatic. “All our ambassadors are tasked with protecting the dignity of Ukraine,” Sybiha wrote on X, while also calling on Prague to engage in constructive dialogue.
The controversy has also spilled into Czech domestic politics. Opposition parties have announced plans to vote down Okamura as speaker, arguing that his statements amount to unacceptable manipulation and, in some cases, collaborationist rhetoric favouring Russia. Czech President Petr Pavel has said he will discuss the issue with the government.
Beyond official politics, the episode has triggered a notable civic response. Around 30,000 people in the Czech Republic signed an open letter apologising to Ukraine for Okamura’s remarks. Addressed to Ambassador Zvarych and initiated by Antonin Kolarz, a teacher and mayor of the village of Semnievice, the letter stressed that Okamura reflects only a small segment of Czech society and not the majority view.
In the letter, Kolarz underlined that Ukraine is defending not only its territory but the principle that borders cannot be changed by force. He also listed crimes committed during Russia’s war, including mass killings of civilians and the destruction of cities, arguing that Ukraine’s defeat would represent a broader failure of democratic values.
Okamura, of Czech-Japanese-Korean descent, rose from business and reality TV to far-right politics, founding SPD on anti-immigration, anti-EU, and direct democracy platforms. Often compared to figures like Marine Le Pen, he’s faced accusations of hate speech but built a loyal base with populist rhetoric.
The dispute has revived earlier controversies surrounding Okamura. Shortly after taking office in November 2025, he ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the Chamber of Deputies building, where it had flown since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Opposition lawmakers responded by hanging Ukrainian flags in their own parliamentary offices.
Caption: Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party’s election leader Tomio Okamura (who is now the parliament’s Speaker) addresses a campaign rally in Prague, Czech Republic, 18 September 2025. The Czech Republic will head to the polls on 3 and 4 October 2025 to elect a new parliament. EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
Updated: January 5, 2026 - 17:21
