Uzhhorod became the venue for an important meeting between the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and the Czech Republic, Denys Shmyhal and Petr Fiala, where they announced their intentions to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership. As part of this cooperation, the countries will focus on collaboration in the defense industry, economy, and trade.
This is reported by Finway
In a joint statement resulting from the negotiations, the Czech Republic reaffirmed its support for the principles outlined in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Peace Formula, as well as its readiness to support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and NATO. The parties emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions pressure on Russia and hold it accountable for crimes against Ukraine.
Cooperation in Investments and Agriculture
Discussing economic cooperation, the Ukrainian and Czech sides emphasized attracting Czech investments to Ukraine and creating joint ventures. They agreed to deepen cooperation in various areas such as energy, agriculture, transportation, and the infrastructure of “smart” cities.
In particular, a memorandum of cooperation in the agricultural sector and food industry was signed. This agreement will help Ukraine align its legislation with EU standards and promote the development of bilateral trade in agricultural products.
Military Assistance and Pilot Training
Prime Minister Shmyhal also reported on cooperation in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft. Additionally, he noted that last year, under a Czech initiative, Ukraine received about 1.5 million artillery shells, and this year, another 400,000 are expected to be supplied. Since 2022, Ukraine has received $900 million in military assistance from the Czech Republic, and this amount has been increased by $43 million for this year. The Czech Republic also provided €80 million for energy support to Ukraine.