Extraordinary summit in Brussels. Pictured from left are Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjanis Karinš in Brussels on February 9, 2023.
Brussels – Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels today about supplies of energy production equipment to Ukraine and about his country's participation in some EU programs. Fiala told journalists after the meeting of the group of six states with the Ukrainian delegation on the sidelines of the extraordinary summit in Brussels.
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Photo gallery: President Zelensky's visit to Europe
According to Fiala, the Czech Republic is ready to continue helping Ukraine in the military field and also with the replacement of energy sources and the repair of the energy infrastructure that Russia is systematically liquidating. According to Fiala, other important points of mutual talks are the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and support for its membership in the European Union.
“The door to the European Union is open and Ukraine is taking strong steps forward,” Fiala said. He praised the progress in legislative changes, despite wartime conditions.
According to the Czech Prime Minister, Zelenskyj described the current events at the front in the war provoked by Russia to the European leaders in Brussels. The Ukrainian side handed over to each of the partner countries a list of military equipment that it would like to receive from it and which it assumes the country in question possesses, a diplomatic source told ČTK. According to him, the Czechia can provide roughly half of the items on the list.
In addition to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia and Estonia were also included in the group, which the Brussels server Politico describes as “loud supporters of Ukraine”. During the afternoon, a total of four groups discussed in this format. Zelensky met with the leading representatives of France, Germany and Britain already on Wednesday.
Fiala met Zelensky for the first time in person last March in Kyiv, where he arrived as one of the first foreign statesmen. Last year, the Czech Prime Minister arrived in the Ukrainian metropolis, which Russian troops were trying to surround, together with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki and the then Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša. Fiala and Zelenskyy met for the second time at a joint meeting of the Czech and Ukrainian governments last October in Kyiv.
An extraordinary summit is being held in Brussels today, which is dedicated to migration, further aid to Ukraine and support for the European economy. For Zelenský, this is only the second trip abroad since the beginning of the war last February.
