Zelensky presented with symbolic key to Czech Senate in Prague
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of his visit to the Czech Republic held a meeting with President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Milos Vystrcil at which the latter presented him with a symbolic key to the Czech Senate.
That's according to the press service of the Ukrainian president, Ukrinform reports.
The head of state thanked the Senate president and the Czech people for their continued and effective support for Ukraine in repelling Russia's armed aggression and for providing assistance to temporarily displaced Ukrainian citizens.
Zelensky also noted the importance of the Senate's adoption of resolutions recognizing Russia's crimes in Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian people and supporting the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which demonstrates a clear political position of the Czech Republic.
Both parties discussed the holding of a Global Summit on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and Ukraine's accession to NATO and the European Union as soon as possible.
Zelensky also thanked Vystrcil for the Czech Republic's active position on the reconstruction of Ukraine and important Ukrainian initiatives.
"The holding of the second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform in Prague in October will bring us closer to the common goal - de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula and all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Vystrcil, in turn, presented Zelensky with a symbolic key to the Czech Senate.
"We are handing over the key to the Czech Senate to our closest friends, those whom we respect. Since you will have the key to the Czech Senate, the doors of the Senate and our hearts will always be open," Vystrcil said.
The Ukrainian president thanked the Czech Senate for the gift.
"I believe this is the key that our people and our military deserve. I thank the Senate for this sign of recognition of the strength of our state and the fight for our independence. I want to thank you for opening the door to us at the very beginning of Russia's invasion. You opened the door without any conditions, you gave shelter to our people," Zelensky said.
In addition, Senator Jiri Ruzicka presented Zelensky with a chevron given to him by Czech volunteers who have been working in Ukraine for over a year.
Zelensky also met with President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament Marketa Pekarova Adamova and thanked her for supporting Ukraine and for the important decisions of the lower house of parliament.
The two emphasized the need for sanctions pressure on Russia within the EU and other international organizations, as well as cooperation between the parties in the implementation of Ukraine's course for full membership in the EU and NATO.
In this context, Zelensky expressed hope for the most active position of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament on these issues.
Zelensky also thanked the Czech Republic for providing humanitarian aid and its active position in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Photos: Office of the President of Ukraine