On 5 May, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who is part of a significant delegation accompanying President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Prague. Throughout their discussions, Minister Lipavský reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defence efforts.
“Russia refuses the ceasefire and continues to bomb Ukraine. We must maintain the pressure of sanctions, work within the coalition of the willing and continue to support Czech munitions and the reconstruction of Ukraine,” the Czech diplomatic chief pointed out.
The ministers also addressed the current status of peace negotiations, with Minister Sybiha expressing appreciation for the ongoing assistance provided by the Czech Republic. He emphasised the productive collaboration between the two nations, particularly in munitions and drone technology.
“Of course, I assured Minister Sybiha that the Czech engagement in the munitions initiative continues and that funding will be secured until September of this year. In 2024, we delivered around 1.5 million pieces of large calibre ammunition to Ukraine. We have thus become one of the main suppliers alongside the US and the UK,” Lipavský said of the Czech munitions initiative.
Over the past year, several important projects have been established within Ukraine’s defence sector, such as joint ammunition production, manufacturing of small-calibre ammunition, and assembly of rifles. Notably, one Ukrainian company is relocating the development and production of drones to the Czech Republic, thereby fostering economic growth within the Czech market.
Both ministers exchanged updates on their efforts related to the ongoing peace process, paying particular attention to Ukraine’s negotiations with the United States and initiatives undertaken by the “Coalition of the Willing.” This coalition is dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian armed forces, maintaining sanctions pressure, and advancing the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Ukraine.
Furthermore, Czech assistance to Ukraine is being strengthened through programs funded by the Instrument for Ukraine and the Intergovernmental Agreement on Technical and Financial Cooperation with Ukraine. In March of this year, the European Commission approved funding for various Czech programmes under the Ukraine Facility, which include the “Ukraine Recovery Guarantee,” aimed at restoring critical infrastructure with a budget of CZK 4.6 billion, and the “Renovation and Modernisation of Hospitals,” with a budget of CZK 3.5 billion.
