Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman lambasted the suggestion by Czech President Milos Zeman that Ukraine should give up on Crimea in exchange for compensation from Russia.
"Some heads of states allow themselves to disrespect Ukraine. Ukraine is a big country, a 45-million nation, and no one is allowed to treat it with this kind of disrespect. You know, [the recent statement by President of the Czech Republic] is something that a same person would never make," the prime minister said in a comment to the channel 112 on Thursday.
Groysman stressed that, in contrast to President Zeman, the Czech are lovely people who are good friends of the Ukrainian people. "But among such a great nation there are those who allow themselves such crazy statements," said Groysman.
On 10 October, Zeman suggested in his PACE address that Ukraine should give up on Crimea in exchange for compensation from Russia.
Ukrainian foreign ministry sharply reacted to Zeman's proposal saying it amounted to "the appeasement of an aggressor" and legitimization of the annexation of Crimea, which is absolutely unacceptable for a modern Europe.
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said that the statement of Zeman contradicted the foreign policy of the country.
The Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic confirmed that the position of Prague on sanctions against Russia remains unchanged: sanctions shall remain in force until the Minsk agreements are implemented.