Barbora Urbanová, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic

Barbora Urbanová, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Czech Parliament, and a member of the opposition Mayors and Independents (STAN) party, believes that Ukraine’s integration into the European Union serves the long-term security interests of not only Ukraine but also the whole of Central Europe.

The trip took place at the personal invitation of Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. However, shortly before the visit, the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies and its Organizing Committee did not approve it. Despite the decision by the leadership, the Czech lawmaker traveled to Ukraine and held the planned parliamentary-level events, as well as meetings with representatives of organizations working with children affected by the war.

The main focus of her talks in Kyiv was the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and abducted by Russia. According to the Czech politician, she intends to raise this issue in the Czech Parliament as well.

In a conversation with Ukrinform, Urbanová also spoke about the Ukrainian side’s response to her visit, Ukraine’s prospects for joining the EU, support for Ukraine from Czech civil society, and the political disputes surrounding the Ukrainian issue in the Czech Republic.

SEEING IT FIRSTHAND AND REAFFIRMING SUPPORT

Ukrinform (UI): Madam Deputy Speaker, you have just returned from Ukraine. Could you tell us where exactly you went and whom you met with? What issues did you discuss?

Barbora Urbanová (BU): I visited Ukraine at the invitation of Olena Kondratiuksee firsthand what specific assistance I personally could offer going forward. The main issue we raised together was the return of children abducted by Russia (the Bring Kids Back initiative — Ed.), and I want to actively raise this issue in the Chamber of Deputies as well.

I also spoke with Save Ukraine about its well-developed system for helping traumatized children. In this approach to protecting and supporting children, Ukraine can be a great source of inspiration for the Czech Republic as well.

UI: Is this your first visit, or have you been to Ukraine before?

BU: Yes, this was my first visit to Ukraine. That is why it was particularly important for me to see everything firsthand, speak with people working in this field, and personally reaffirm the continuity of our support.

ABANDONING UKRAINE’S EU INTEGRATION EFFORTS RUNS COUNTER TO CZECH INTERESTS

UI: It should be noted that you traveled to Kyiv effectively without the official mandate of the Chamber of Deputies’ Organizing Committee. What legal or diplomatic restrictions did this create for you during your talks in Kyiv?

BU: Only organizational ones. A lawmaker’s mandate derives directly from the Constitution and the trust of citizens. I accepted a direct official invitation from the leadership of the Ukrainian Parliament and acted as a democratically elected member of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The level of reception, the openness of the discussions, and the working program reflected this as well.

UI: The leadership of the Chamber of Deputies and the Organizing Committee did not approve your visit, arguing, among other things, that foreign policy should be determined by the government rather than individual lawmakers, and they also expressed disagreement with your position on supporting Ukraine’s integration into the EU. How do you assess these arguments? Do you see this as a form of censorship of opposition (or parliamentary) activity?

BU: I believe this argument reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of parliament in a democratic state. Parliamentary diplomacy in the civilized world is a standard, independent instrument that complements the government’s policy and creates space for dialogue where it is necessary to build long-term institutional relations.

One thing is that abandoning support for Ukraine’s integration efforts runs counter to the long-term security interests of the Czech Republic. Another is how we should view attempts to administratively restrict lawmakers’ contacts with foreign partners.

Personally, I do not see this as a sign of strength, but rather as an attempt to bring domestic political disputes into areas where the Czech Republic should act confidently and clearly. And this certainly should not happen, let alone become a precedent.

After all, we in the opposition also have our voters and represent a particular segment of public opinion in the Czech Republic, and Czech society is not homogeneous. From the very beginning, I have asked only for respect for me, my voters, and what I represent.

UI: So, you traveled to Kyiv at the personal invitation of Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk. Did the initial schedule of meetings change because your visit lost its official status?

BU: The program went ahead exactly as originally planned and in full. Moreover, it covered precisely those areas in which I had personally made commitments during the Organizing Committee’s consideration of the matter.

For the Ukrainian side, what matters is political support, the substance of the talks, and concrete results, rather than internal bureaucratic procedures in Prague. All the planned meetings at the parliamentary level, as well as meetings with various organizations and centers, took place.

UI: And how did Ms. Kondratiuk and the Ukrainian leadership react to the fact that the Czech Parliament effectively declined to send an official delegation?

BU: Ukrainians viewed my visit as clear evidence that there is strong and consistent support for international law and justice in the Czech Republic. Above all, they expressed tremendous respect for Czech assistance and gratitude that the dialogue is continuing at the highest level.

UKRAINIANS CONTRIBUTE TO EUROPEAN DEFENSE EVERY DAY

UI: Given that one of the reasons the Organizing Committee did not approve your visit was your strong support for Ukraine’s European integration, how do you plan to help Ukraine along this path despite opposition from the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies?

BU: An integrated, democratic, and stable Ukraine within European structures is the best guarantee of security for the whole of Central Europe.

Ukraine currently has the best army in Europe — an army hardened by real combat experience. And I strongly support Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union when it decides to join and meets the necessary conditions.

Ukrainians demonstrate through their actions that they are part of Europe and that they contribute to European defense every day. I think it is important to emphasize this and speak about it completely openly.

This was one of the topics discussed at the 22nd Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference, which I attended. I was pleased that Ukrainians themselves understand what needs to be improved and changed to ensure the successful completion of the EU accession negotiations already underway.

One of the specific issues mentioned, for example, was anti-corruption legislation. Ukrainians are not shying away from this issue — on the contrary.

UI: In the winter, to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, you organized a conference involving charitable organizations that help my country. Do you monitor this assistance or take a personal interest in any specific projects?

BU: I have been following this area very closely for a long time. In my view, the work of non-governmental organizations operating directly in the affected regions is of key importance.

Czech civil society has achieved an incredible amount, and I see it as my task to help these organizations remove legislative and systemic barriers.

However, the state has now decided to participate in this assistance to a much lesser extent than before. This means there is no longer the same degree of certainty that projects can be implemented. Czechs are trying to make up for this by taking part in various fundraising campaigns, but I consider the state’s failure to participate shameful.

UI: You have sharply criticized the steps taken by the current leadership of the Chamber of Deputies, in particular the actions of Speaker Tomio Okamura, who, among other things, ordered the Ukrainian flag to be removed from the Chamber of Deputies building — and, moreover, did so himself immediately after being elected to the post. Does this mean that the lower house of parliament has reached a definitive split over the Ukraine issue?

BU: Such symbolic gestures as removing flags or blocking foreign trips are cheap political marketing aimed at a certain segment of voters. I see this as an attempt to damage our country’s good name abroad.

But I would not speak of a split throughout the Chamber of Deputies — that is precisely what I am trying to prevent in my capacity as Deputy Speaker.

And I believe that there is still a majority of lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies who represent different political forces but fully understand what the security interests of the Czech Republic are.

The split exists only between those who act responsibly and professionally and those who seek to score cheap political points from human suffering and war.

USING WAR FATIGUE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS DANGEROUS

UI: On X, you wrote: “When it comes to the war in Ukraine, you cannot simply have your own opinion, because abducted and killed children are a daily reality.” Do you have a sense that part of the Czech political scene and electorate is beginning to grow tired of the war issue or is falling for Russian narratives?

BU: Unfortunately, it is entirely natural that after more than four years of a brutal war, war fatigue is emerging in society. But what is dangerous is when some political representatives cynically exploit this fatigue for their own political gain.

When I talk about abducted children, civilian casualties, and destroyed homes, in my view, this is not a matter for political debate — these are hard, documented facts and war crimes. We must not question this.

If we stop distinguishing between the aggressor and the victim, we will deny the fundamental values on which our society and our freedom are based.

It is our duty as politicians, and therefore mine as well, to constantly remind people of this reality and not succumb to disinformation-driven simplifications.

UI: And finally. Former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and current Senator Miroslava Němcová has suggested that you organize a visit by your counterpart, Olena Kondratiuk, to the Czech Republic and hold an alternative conference with lawmakers who support Ukraine. Do you plan to pursue this idea and invite your Ukrainian counterpart to Prague?

BU: For now, I am focused on following up on the specific requests for support that I received from the Ukrainian side — on at least trying to fulfill these specific requests.

At the same time, I should note that during our discussions, Ms. Kondratiuk and I touched on several possibilities for ensuring that my visit to Ukraine does not remain a one-off initiative, but that our mutual relations continue to grow stronger.

However, I will have to keep the details to myself for now.

Olha Tanasiychuk led this conversation. Prague

Photos via the Author and Facebook/Barbora Urbanová