If Ukraine Accepts a Bad Peace Deal, Russia Will Target Europe Next, Warns Czech Intelligence Chief

Forcing Ukraine into significant concessions to end the war would embolden the Kremlin and signal a dangerous precedent, Czech intelligence chief Michal Koudelka said in an interview with Bloomberg on November 26.

“If Ukraine loses, or is forced to accept a bad peace deal, then Russia will perceive that as victory,” said Koudelka, a major general and head of the Czech Security Information Service.

“Russia would spend perhaps the next 10 to 15 years recovering from its huge human and economic losses and preparing for the next target, which is central and eastern Europe,” added Kudelka.

Koudelka reminded the West that the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022 revealed a Russian “an imperial superpower with imperial desires” politics, demonstrating “absolute disdain” for its military losses and civilian casualties.

He emphasized that under international law, Russia must withdraw all troops, return occupied and annexed territories, and pay reparations.

This stance comes as Kyiv faces growing international pressure to explore new ways of bringing Putin to the negotiating table, even after 1,000 days of resistance against the invasion.

Czechia, a former Soviet satellite, has emerged as a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The country has provided refuge to hundreds of thousands of displaced Ukrainians and organized shipments of donated ammunition.

Together with Poland, the Baltic states, and Scandinavian countries, Prague is actively urging other allies to continue arming Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Under Koudelka’s leadership since 2016, Czechia has taken decisive action to curb Russian intelligence operations and influence in local politics and business.

Measures include banning Russian suppliers from participating in nuclear energy projects, reducing dependence on Russian natural gas, and expelling the majority of Kremlin spies operating under diplomatic cover.

Earlier, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha reaffirmed that Ukraine will not accept any peace proposals that compromise its sovereignty or territorial integrity.