Czech news in brief for March 2: Sunday's top headlines

A new STEM poll for CNN Prima News shows ANO leading with 33.6 percent support. The Spolu coalition follows with 16.2 percent, and STAN at 12.9 percent. SPD, Pirates, Stačilo!, and the Motorists would also enter parliament. The Motorists crossed the 5 percent threshold for the first time, with growing support among younger male voters. The poll, conducted from Feb. 7-25, included 1,563 respondents and estimated 59.5 percent voter turnout at this fall's parliamentary elections.

Military support for Ukraine is the only path to a just and lasting peace, Czech PM Petr Fiala said before departing for a London summit on Ukraine. He warned against aligning with Russia’s vision and stressed Europe's need for stronger defense policies. Fiala also backed increased military spending, calling for at least 3 percent of GDP to boost security.

A man has been charged with the fatal abuse of his three-year-old stepson in Bruntál, with police suspecting prolonged violence. The child's mother allegedly did not intervene. The suspect has been taken into custody as the investigation continues. Witnesses claim the stepfather frequently beat the boy, who was found lifeless on Thursday. Authorities are withholding further details due to the case's sensitivity.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová visited Ukraine over the weekend, delivering winter clothing, boots, and bandages to Kharkiv troops. She also honored fallen soldiers from World War II and the ongoing war with Russia. Černochová stressed the importance of continued support for Ukraine, calling it a "moral duty" as the country fights against Russian aggression.

Czech President Petr Pavel urged the creation of a broad coalition to support a just peace in Ukraine, warning that peace on Russian terms amounts to capitulation. His statement follows a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. European leaders, including Czech PM Petr Fiala, will discuss Ukraine aid at upcoming meetings in London and Brussels.

David Pastrňák extended his point streak to 17 games, setting a new Czech NHL record and surpassing Jaromír Jágr and Robert Lang. The Boston Bruins forward scored and added an assist in a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh. Pastrňák now has 802 career points and is closing in on Milan Hejduk and Jakub Voráček in Czech all-time scoring.

Police are investigating Friday’s freight train crash and benzene tanker fire in Hustopeče nad Bečvou as negligent endangerment of public safety. The derailment led to a massive blaze affecting at least 14 carriages, with damages estimated at up to CZK 125 million. Firefighters are still on site containing the fire and securing the scene. Rail traffic in the area is halted and is unlikely to resume for weeks.

Analysts project that wages in the Czech Republic increased nominally by 6.5–7 percent and real wages by 3.5–4 percent in Q4 2024. For the entire year, real wages rose by approximately 4 percent but remain below pre-pandemic levels. Economists expect wages to reach pre-COVID levels by 2026. Detailed figures will be released Thursday by the Czech Statistical Office.

Czech PM Petr Fiala called for increased military support for Ukraine to counter Russian aggression, stressing that only a well-armed Europe can ensure lasting peace. He reiterated the need to raise defense spending to at least three percent of GDP. Fiala’s remarks come ahead of a European leaders’ meeting in London, following a tense exchange between US and Ukrainian presidents over military aid.

Czech initiative Gift for Putin has raised CZK 70 million from over 20,400 donors to buy a Black Hawk helicopter for Ukraine. Organizers say the Czech Republic is the first country where citizens crowdfunded a military helicopter for Kyiv. The campaign, launched in November, highlights Ukraine’s urgent need for air support. Previous fundraisers provided tanks, rocket launchers, and other military aid.

The U.S. has little motivation to resolve the Ukraine conflict in Europe's favor, Czech analyst Petr Boháček says, warning against reliance on Washington. Political scientists suggest Trump's heated meeting with Zelenskyy signals a shift in US foreign policy. Experts argue Europe must bolster its military and diplomatic independence, as Trump's stance suggests a growing detachment from European security concerns.