Czech Republic bracing for any developments around Ukraine

02.02.2022 09:50

Ukrinform

The Czech Republic hopes that the escalation around Ukraine will be reduced through diplomacy, while not ruling out a "bad scenario," remaining ready to provide assistance to Kyiv.

This was stated by Prime Minister Petr Fiala after a meeting of the country’s Security Council on February 1, Ukrinform reports.

"We hope for a diplomatic settlement, and believe in it, but we are ready for a bad scenario… We consider it necessary and responsible to prepare the Czech Republic for the consequences of Russia's violent aggression against Ukraine," Fiala said.

The head of the Czech government said the interagency working group was assessing possible risks in the field of cyber attacks, actions of foreign intelligence services, migration, rising prices or severed supplies of raw materials, as well as protecting Czech citizens and assets in Ukraine.

Fiala, along with Defense Minister Jana Černochová, announced an agreement under which the Czech Republic would send Ukraine 4,000 152-mm artillery shells designed for the Dana self-propelled howitzers.

For his part, Interior Minister Vit Rakušan stressed that his office would coordinate humanitarian aid to Ukraine if required. He added that the Czech police remain ready to join the efforts to protect the Slovak-Ukrainian border if so requested by Bratislava.

On the same day, during the visit to Prague of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny, agreements were reached in the field of medical treatment of wounded servicemen. The Czech Republic will be ready to accept Ukrainians for such treatment.

Further possible assistance to the Ukrainian side will be discussed during next week’s Ukraine visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipawski.

"It is in the vital interests of the Czech Republic to preserve peace and security in Eastern Europe," Lipawski said, adding that any use of force by Russia would be unacceptable.

As Ukrinform reported, last week the Czech government decided to supply to Ukraine 4,000 artillery shells worth about 37 million Czech kroons (over 1.5 million euros). Fiala said that the Czech Republic stood firm in supporting Ukraine, remaining confident in a diplomatic solution to the conflict.