Pavel and Macron discuss support for Ukraine at Prague Castle

French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed at Prague Castle by the Czech head of state, Petr Pavel, on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed military aid to Ukraine and insisted that Russia not be allowed to triumph in that conflict.

Mr. Macron said his ministers would continue to discuss French involvement in a Czech plan to purchase hundreds of thousands of ammunition rounds from third countries for Ukraine, financially backed by other states. He described the Czech initiative as significant.

The French leader said Russia could not win in Ukraine and that it was necessary to support the Ukrainian people and army for as long as required.

Mr. Pavel said he was in favour of seeking new forms of assistance to Ukraine, including a discussion on a possible presence in the country; not in the form of combat troops, but in the form of assistance.

Mr. Macron began his one-day trip to Czechia with a visit to Prague’s French secondary school. He is also due to hold talks with the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala.

The French leader was last in Prague in 2022 for the first gathering of the European Political Community and an informal European Council summit.