comment: >
  
  I think Vystrčil's trip to Taiwan was the first spark
context: It feels bizarre that we had a reclusive drunk for a president for ten years, now Pavel hasn't even been sworn in and he's already in major international news every single day. With Miloš Zeman leaving the office, some of the final remnants of our East-aligned past are finally fading out. I really hope that in some time, Czechia will become a true Western liberal democracy. >
  
  Imma be real, while his foreign policy positions are very positive and newsworthy, part of the reason is that he's very handsome. >
  
  I showed a picture of him to partner and all she said was, “Woof.” >
  
  Well yeah dogs tend to make that noise no? /s >
  
  We're all dogs in the presence of great beauty. >
  
  “Woof” to that >
  
  Otherwise Russia might try this again in 10, 20 or 30 years? >
  
  Exactly. >
  
  Ukraine joining NATO as part of a peace deal is the only option.  It would insure prolonged peace.  Without it, it’s just another delay in the inevitable Russian expansion. >
  
  And any deal where Russia accepts that Ukraine will join NATO is only possible when Russia loses. Which is why Ukraine needs western weapons. >
  
  Why would either Ukraine or NATO need Russian permission? We avoided courting nations on Russia's border to preserve the peace. Russia has demonstrated that doesn't work. Nothing stopping us now. >
  
  Permission no. Perhaps concession.
  In other words, there needs to be a situation where Russia doesn't view Ukraine joining NATO as provocation or escalation of the conflict. Which means the conflict needs to be resolved with a scenario that isn't "Russia won".
  But we are still very far from any resolution anyway. >
  
  I get your point, but I still disagree. Russia needs to be told that if Ukraine seeks NATO protection, then so long as it's accepted by NATO, that's what is happening. Russia can kick and scream, hold its breath. Whatever, but that's not their decision to make. Their concession is irrelevant, unless they're really willing to risk MAD over Ukraine and Crimea. >
  
  Well, either Russia needs to lose so badly that they have no other option than to concede Ukraine joining NATO. Or NATO needs to realise, that Russian warnings to NATO are just as threatening as China's final warnings.
  With the first one being the scenario that I think NATO prefers because it doesn't require NATO to grow any balls and doesn't risk a direct conflict with Russia. And both of them require the war in Ukraine to be somewhat resolved, which at the moment it's nowhere near to. >
  
  It surely feels nice to be finally proud when Czech politics or politicians are mentioned. 
  Okay, I guess PM Fiala's train journey to Kiyv was the first such occasion, but Petr Pavel is now taking it to a whole new level.