Final Word from Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Czechs have been consistent about not wanting to send their sons and daughters to fight in Ukraine. Surveys in early 2023, mid-2023 and late 2024 showed that more than 80% of respondents were against sending troops to join the fight, while 10-12% were in favor. However, a rather significant change came in the latest CVVM poll, issued this week. Only 71% of respondents are now against sending soldiers to fight, while 18% are in favor. In addition, 45% now favor sending troops as part of a peacekeeping mission, and 43% are opposed. This is a new question by CVVM, no doubt prompted by Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire and an end to the war. The Fiala government's new emphasis on security is clearly having an impact. Yet the CVVM poll isn't very realistic about the war options. A future poll should ask whether Czechs are ready to send their men and women on a peacekeeping mission without the U.S. backstop that Petr Fiala and other European politicians have so far considered essential. [ Czech Republic Keir Starmer Emmanuel Macron Paris coalition of the willing ]