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The training of Ukrainian soldiers in Czechia can continue next year. The proposal was approved by the lower house of the Czech parliament on Tuesday, also thanks to the votes of the opposition ANO party. The lower house also agreed to extend most of the missions of Czech soldiers abroad, as proposed by the government. The Senate gave its necessary approval three weeks ago.

According to the Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová, some 3,500 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained in Czechia to date and another 500 had been trained by Czech instructors in Poland. Speaking to the members of the lower house, the minister said the missions will reinforce Czechia’s position as a "responsible ally and partner".

Fresh snow is complicating traffic around Czechia on Tuesday, especially in the west and north-west parts of the country.

Although maintenance crews have been working around the clock there may be snow drifts and ice on less frequented roads. A number of train lines were also halted as a result of fallen trees and some 30,000 households were without power in the morning as a result of the heavy snowfall.

The mountain regions saw some 15 centimetres fall during the night and more snow is expected during the day. Weather experts have also warned against icy conditions caused by a sudden rise in temperatures, expected later on Tuesday.

Italy shares the same view on supporting Ukraine as Czechia, President Petr Pavel told reporters after a meeting with his counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday, adding that the military and financial aid for the country will continue.

The Czech head of state, who is visiting Italy along with a delegation of around 30 Czech businesspeople, also held a speech at the NATO Defence College in Rome, in which he said Russia presents the most significant and immediate threat to European security and to Czechia’s allies in NATO.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Pavel paid a visit to the Czech Embassy in Rome. He said Italy and Czechia were linked not only by historical and cultural relations, but also by significant trade exchanges and agreement on a number of issues, including foreign policy and economic issues.

President Petr Pavel has nominated attorney Milan Hulmák, who also teaches at the Faculty of Law at Palacký University in Olomouc, to the panel of Constitutional Court judges. The presidential office made the announcement on its website on Tuesday.

Mr. Pavel is due to discuss Mr. Hulmák’s nomination with representatives of the Senate, which will vote on the appointment, on Thursday.

Last month, the president proposed attorney Lucie Dolanská Bányaiová and Supreme Administrative Court judge Zdeněk Kühn for the post of constitutional judge. The upper house will decide on their nomination before Christmas.