New Czech Foreign Minister Macinka Discusses Support for Kyiv and EU Accession with Ukrainian Counterpart

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha — their first conversation since the new Czech government took office. The two discussed military and energy assistance to Ukraine, as well as the country's prospects for joining the European Union.

According to Sybiha, he thanked Czechia for its comprehensive support of Ukraine, including a contribution of roughly seven million dollars to the PURL initiative, as well as for its steadfast backing of Ukraine's EU integration, including the opening of negotiations on the first and sixth negotiating clusters. "We highly appreciate the Czech Republic's principled stance and solidarity," the Ukrainian minister wrote.

As a reminder, Czechia contributed 140 million crowns to the PURL program, which finances military equipment for Ukraine. The move was criticized by Chamber of Deputies Speaker Tomio Okamura (SPD), while President Petr Pavel called it a positive signal.

Macinka told the outlet that he is in touch with Sybiha "fairly often." "It's always a very rational, substantive conversation. This time the discussion was different — more interesting in the sense that it was our first exchange since the new prime minister and new government were appointed," he said, without revealing further details.

Sybiha also informed Macinka about intensified Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and the deliberate destruction of key civilian infrastructure. According to the minister, Russia is acting this way "because it cannot achieve any of its strategic goals on the battlefield."

"In this regard, we discussed further assistance to Ukraine's energy sector and the involvement of Czech companies in our recovery and reconstruction efforts," the head of Ukrainian diplomacy added.

The ministers also discussed the possible strengthening of a "mutually beneficial defense partnership," the details of which Sybiha did not disclose. "We intend to continue deepening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Czechia for the benefit of our peoples and the security of Europe," he concluded.

Macinka met with Sybiha in person in January in Kyiv, shortly after taking office. At the time, he said the moment had come for Russia to make concessions, and standing at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in the Ukrainian capital, he admitted he was "completely in shock." Traveling with Macinka to Kyiv on that occasion was also Filip Turek, honorary chairman of the Motorists party, who declared at the site of the strike that the war had been caused by NATO enlargement.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz