Shells for Ukraine: more countries may join Czech initiative

The Czech Republic continues to receive requests from various countries seeking to join the initiative to procure ammunition for Ukraine.

This was stated by the Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic, Jana Cernochova, in an interview with the ČTK agency, Ukrinform reports.

"We have memoranda of understanding on the table. Countries are reaching out to us and they want to participate in the munitions initiative,” she said.

According to the outlook, Ukraine should receive about half a million ammunition rounds by the end of the year. Cernochova said there should be enough donors working on a permanent basis, and expressed hope that the supplies would change the situation on the battlefield.

At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Defense believes Ukraine can use the supplied military materials at its own discretion.

"In any case, there is no violation of international law by Ukraine. As a country that has been attacked, it has the right to defend itself in the way it deems necessary," the minister emphasized.

She also welcomed the German initiative to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.

"It is not only about providing air defense systems, but also about pilot training. We can offer countries training on F-16 and Gripen aircraft. The state enterprise LOM Prague has the power to do this, and it has repeatedly made the relevant offer to the Ukrainian side," Cernochova said.

As reported, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said last week that 15 EU and NATO member states had contributed more than EUR 1.6 billion to the fund within the initiative. According to the government chief, tens of thousands of 155 mm ammunition rounds will arrive in Ukraine as early as June.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine