Czech President Petr Pavel: the army could be sent to Ukraine

Czech President Petr Pavel did not rule out the possibility of sending foreign troops to Ukraine.
He said that European leaders should not limit themselves in terms of assistance to Kyiv.
Pavel urged Ukraine’s partners to extend the forms of aid for Ukraine, including the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine.
He noted that it was not about sending combat units but about different forms of aid and "non-combat participation".
"I endorse searching for new ways to help, including continuing the discussion about a possible military presence in Ukraine. Let’s not impose limits on ourselves if we do not have to," Pavel said, adding that Europe must play a bigger role in deterring Russia.
Pavel added that there was no difference whether Ukrainian soldiers would undergo training with Western instructors abroad or directly in Ukraine.
"Ukraine remains a sovereign state, even though it was attacked," he said, noting that a possible training mission is not a violation of any international rules.
"We decide on our own which form of aid to choose," he added.
The Kremlin has warned that if NATO sends combat troops, a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia would be inevitable.
Last month, Pavel announced at a security conference in Munich that the Czechs had identified 800,000 pieces of artillery ammunition in various countries and were seeking funding for their acquisition to ship to Ukraine.
About 15 countries, including Britain, Belgium Denmark, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, have voiced their support for the plan, the Czech government said.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as leaders of Germany, the U.K., Sweden, Poland, and other European NATO member states, ruled out sending Western troops to Ukraine.
Later, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that European leaders should not exclude this possibility, saying this could be "a signal to Russia."
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said that his country was ready to send a limited number of military personnel to Ukraine, but only to train Ukrainian soldiers and not for participation in hostilities.
During a two-hour State of the Nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened "tragic consequences" if NATO troops were sent to Ukraine, claiming the West's support for Kyiv "risks a conflict using nuclear weapons."