Prague and Kyiv unveil plans to step up weapons production in Ukraine
The Czech and Ukrainian governments on Monday signed a number of bilateral agreements opening the way for closer cooperation in arms production and the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the two countries were building a “strong, strategic partnership” that would make Europe safer.
The Czech Republic has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion more than two years ago and Prime Minister Petr Fiala made it clear at Monday’s joint meeting of the two cabinets that Kyiv could count on continuing support.
“We have assured our Ukrainian friends that we are committed to supporting Ukraine in the fight for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, but also for European security and the democratic principles we share. We must do everything in our power to make sure that it wins this war.”
The Czech government is spearheading an initiative that has sourced hundreds of thousands of ammunition rounds from around the world to help the Ukrainian army and the talks in Prague revealed fresh plans in the sphere of weapons production.
A new ammunition production plant will be set up in Ukraine in cooperation with the Czech company Sellier & Bellot and Prague will also move the production of Colt CZ Group assault rifles to Ukraine.
Both Czech companies have agreed to cooperate with Ukraine in the production of several types of small-caliber ammunition and both have already signed contracts for the supply of goods and services with the Ukrainian state enterprise Ukroboronservice.
According to the Ukrainian prime minister, Czechia manufactures weapons components that are extremely important for his country. The Ukrainian side has asked that contracts between Czech manufacturers and other countries be postponed, and that Ukraine be given priority in this respect.
Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová told journalists that the setting up of a new ammunition production plant in Ukraine could work similarly to Czech-Ukrainian cooperation in drone production, adding that under the agreement reached Ukrainians who would help in the arms production effort could have an exemption from the mobilization decree.
In addition to closer cooperation in weapons production, Czech and Ukrainian representatives signed memoranda on cooperation in a number of other spheres including health care, energy and trade and opening the way for greater Czech involvement in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Fiala said the agreements reached were advantageous for both sides. He noted that Czech companies are already increasingly involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure and said that he sees further potential for cooperation in the modernization of nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
Ukraine has also accepted an offer from Czechia to treat and rehabilitate child patients in Prague following the recent attack on Ukraine's largest children's hospital, and the two sides on Monday signed a memorandum on cooperation in health care, which will make this possible.
