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The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, together with his counterparts from Poland and Slovenia met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other of the country’s high officials in Kyiv on Tuesday as representatives of the European Union. In a social media statement, President Zelensky described the leaders’ visit as a strong signal of support for Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia for nearly three weeks now. Prime Minister Fiala said that the main aim of the visit was to make it clear that Ukraine was not alone and that the Czech Republic, together with Europe as a whole, is on Ukraine’s side. Slovenia’s head of government Janez Janša added that Ukraine was part of the European family of nations.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated on Twitter that support for Ukraine and the issuing of stronger sanctions against Russia was discussed at the meeting.

The visit was organized in consultation with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

US Vice President Kamala Harris has backed the Czech Republic's firm stance to the Russian aggression in Ukraine and offered concrete assistance in helping to deal with the direct impact of the conflict on the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote on Twitter following a phone conversation with the US vice president on Monday. He did not specify what form of aid was offered, but added that they had discussed ways in which the two countries can work together to help Ukrainians in their fight for freedom. The Czech Republic has sent weapons, financial assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the past days and has opened its doors to war refugees from the country. When the number of refugees crossed the 200,000 mark the Czech government asked the EU for assistance in helping to accommodate them on Czech territory.

Czech Radio and its Symphony Orchestra will host a charity concert for Ukraine on Monday, March 14th in the Rudolfinum. Under the baton of their chief conductor Petr Popelka, the musicians will perform Dvořák's “From the New World” and works by Ukrainian composers. The evening will open with Valentyn Sylvestrov's “Elegy” and hornist Radek Baborák will perform the solo in Reinhold Glière’s “Concerto.” All proceeds will be donated to the People in Need fund-raising collection for Ukraine.

As of Monday, March 14, the state will control the profit margins on fuel sales, on suspicion that petrol stations have been overcharging customers. Sellers will have to send the Finance Ministry daily reports on sales prices, as well as provide a retrospective review going back to February 21. The prices will be assessed with respect to the development of fuel prices on the Rotterdam Commodity Exchange. Fuel prices in the Czech Republic have jumped by an average 10 crowns since the start of the war in Ukraine, hitting a historic high, and there is suspicion that fuel retailers are abusing the situation. Under pressure to act, the government last week decided to abolish the mandatory blending of bio-components into fuels and to scrap the road tax on vehicles weighing up to 12 tons.