Interest in voluntary military service among Czechs is waning. Since its launch in summer 2023, sign-ups for the Ministry of Defense’s “list of volunteers” have dropped from nearly 230 in the first year to just 100 last year. Volunteers share health info and pledge to prioritize military exercises if security worsens.

The eyes of the world are on Washington, where President Trump, President Zelensky and EU heavyweights will debate further steps in ongoing talks to secure peace in Ukraine. While Prague is backing efforts to stop the bloodshed, Friday’s meeting in Alaska has evoked deep skepticism regarding the chances of securing this goal without selling out Ukraine’s national interests.

As the United States and Russia prepare for high-stakes talks on Ukraine later this week, the Czech Republic is intensifying its diplomatic engagement with Kyiv and its allies. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (SPOLU) is on his sixth visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Czechia has unveiled a new national logo — a simplified white lion on a red background — to unify the visual style of all state institutions. Designed by Studio Najbrt, the emblem modernizes the historic heraldic symbol while preserving its fighting spirit. Officials hope the consistent branding will boost recognition abroad and foster a sense of pride at home.

On October 3rd and 4th, Czechs will head to the polls in a parliamentary election. For the first time ever, Czech citizens based abroad will have the possibility to make use of the postal vote. However, the deadline to sign up is less than three weeks away and the number of registered voters comes way short of expectations.

Czechia remains one of the few EU countries firmly opposed to recognizing Palestine unless both sides recognize each other. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Spolu) says recognition now would reward Hamas and harm prospects for dialogue.

This Thursday, the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka will celebrate its National Day, the highlight of its cultural programme. The day will feature a wide range of events and will be attended by Czech President Petr Pavel. To find out more about what’s planned, I spoke to Ondřej Soška, General Commissioner of the Czech participation at the Expo.

At a press conference on July 21st, the Czech Social Democracy party signed a memorandum of cooperation with Stačilo!, a party that incorporates the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. The move, undertaken to strengthen the parties’ chance of electoral success, has met with severe criticism from some Social Democrats.

The new SPYDER air defense system, ordered from Israel four years ago for nearly 14 billion crowns, promises longer range, missiles targeting multiple objectives, and a technological leap for the Czech army. It is expected to be ready for the autumn military trials.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský symbolically received a collection of art pieces from Jan Masaryk’s former London residence, on Thursday afternoon. The roughly 30 works of art were bought out at auction by one of Masaryk’s former secretaries, after his tragic death in 1948. Radio Prague International spoke to Ivan Dubovický, host of the ceremony and cultural anthropologist at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.