Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met today in Prague to sign a cooperation agreement. The Czech Republic is one of the most significant supporters of Kyiv in its fight to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion.
The joint government meetings resulted in a crucial defence agreement between Ukraine’s state company, Ukroboronservice, and the Czech ammunition industry, Sellier & Bellot, which plans to build an ammunition factory in Ukraine.
“Cooperation with Ukraine is not only about helping the attacked country but is future-oriented and mutually beneficial. Czech companies are increasingly involved in the renewal of the local infrastructure. Our exports to Ukraine are 25% higher than before the war. We see further potential, for example, in the modernization of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. We agreed on this today with the Prime Minister of Ukraine @Denys_Shmyhal,” the Czech Prime Minister posted on X.
The two delegations signed several documents on joint arms production, medicine, energy cooperation, and the exchange of experience.
“We outlined the contours of our strategic alliance in a joint statement. These are the coordination of efforts at the international level, the provision of military, financial and humanitarian aid by 🇨🇿 to 🇺🇦, work on the implementation of the Peace Formula, increasing the pressure of sanctions on the aggressor and the accountability of rf for crimes. Grateful to 🇨🇿 Government, PM @P_Fiala, and the Czech people for their effective support and solidarity”, Prime Minister Shmyhal posted on X.
Ukraine has received the first 50,000 ammunition shells from the Czech initiative launched earlier this year. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that the ammunition drive will continue next year, with around half a million artillery shells expected to be delivered to Ukraine this year through the Czech drive. This initiative uses contributions from NATO states and allies to source ammunition outside Europe.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister also met with Czech President Petr Pavel.
[Credit: Petr Pavel @prezidentpavel]
“The Czech initiative is already active. The first 50,000 shells have arrived in 🇺🇦. I thanked 🇨🇿 President @prezidentpavel for this initiative,” PM Shmyhal wrote on X.
“With the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, we discussed the expansion of economic, defence and energy cooperation between our two countries and the forthcoming bilateral agreement on security cooperation. Ukraine needs to strengthen the energy grid and supply the necessary equipment that will allow residents to survive the winter in cities where Russian forces have destroyed heating pipes, power plants and distribution networks. I appreciate the Prime Minister’s thanks to the Czech Republic and all the people for their persistent support,” declared President Pavel.
