According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), another joint meeting between the Czech and Ukrainian governments could take place by the end of this year. The last one took place at the end of October 2022 in Kyiv.
“The superiority of the Russians is huge, and Ukraine can only succeed if it has enough (weapons and ammunition) and quickly,” said the prime minister. “First of all, we are discussing with our counterparts from Denmark and the Netherlands what can be done for Ukraine and how to further advance aid, including the Czech initiative to find artillery ammunition,” he added.
Czech ministers led by Fiala held talks in Kyiv with the Ukrainian government and President Volodymyr Zelensky the year before last on October 31. The trip was intended to express clear support for Ukraine resisting the Russian invasion and to support Ukraine’s ambitions to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. Members of both cabinets also discussed the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
Fiala also visited Kyiv the year before last March, shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion. ČTK said in an interview that intergovernmental negotiations could be repeated this year. “It is in play and I can imagine that we will have such a meeting during this year,” said Fiala.
According to Fiala, the Czech Republic currently deals with Ukraine at many levels, from the plenipotentiary for Ukraine to the highest political level. “What Ukraine needs most at the moment is weapons and ammunition,” he said.
The Czech Republic wants to continue its initiative to find artillery ammunition, cooperation with Denmark and the Netherlands is key. “The coalition of these three states really did a lot, and without them the initiative would not have been so successful. I am grateful to everyone who is joining in,” he added.
Ukraine could receive the first supplies from the Czech initiative in June, the prime minister said in mid-April after a meeting at NATO headquarters. According to him, thanks to the Czech initiative, it has already been possible to obtain 500,000 pieces of artillery ammunition. There are contracts for almost 200,000, and the Czech Republic is very realistically able to secure another 300,000 pieces.
