Highlights of the first day of Zelenskyy's visit to Prague: F-16 Training Center, 1.8 Million Shells, and Stronger Ties
During a two-day official visit to the Czech Republic, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Czech President Petr Pavel announced a series of joint initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and reinforcing European support for Kyiv in its ongoing war against Russian aggression.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Zelenskyy’s posts on social media platform X.
F-16 Pilot Training School to Launch Outside Ukraine
One of the visit’s most significant developments was the announcement of a new joint F-16 training school, to be established by Ukraine and Czechia as part of the international Air Coalition. President Zelenskyy emphasized that, due to security risks posed by constant Russian airstrikes, the training base will be located outside Ukrainian territory.
“Together with President Pavel, we are taking concrete steps to expand our aviation cooperation. The Ukrainian-Czech F-16 training school will help accelerate the readiness of Ukrainian pilots and is a vital element of our long-term defense strategy,” Zelenskyy stated at a joint press conference in Prague.
Ukraine Expects 1.8 Million Shells Through Czech Initiative
President Zelenskyy also confirmed that Ukraine could receive up to 1.8 million artillery shells this year through a Czech-led ammunition procurement initiative. The program, launched in 2023 with the support of allied nations, enables the purchase of munitions from third countries and has already delivered approximately 1.5 million shells to Ukraine.
This year's shipment is expected to further bolster Ukraine’s defensive capacity, especially as the country anticipates receiving a total of 3 million shells in 2025 from European and U.S. partners combined.
Czechia Reaffirms Unwavering Support for Ukraine
Petr Pavel reiterated the Czech Republic’s enduring commitment to Ukraine’s defense and long-term recovery, stating that Kyiv’s allies must not show fatigue in their support.
“If anyone has the right to feel war fatigue, it is Ukraine, not those who are helping,” Pavel said. “It is essential that peace is achieved through justice, not by rewarding aggression. That’s why Czechia and its allies will continue to stand firmly by Ukraine.”
He also voiced strong backing for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union and NATO, and pledged Czech participation in post-war reconstruction efforts.
First Lady of Ukraine Signs Key Mental Health Cooperation Agreement
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with Czech First Lady Eva Pavlová. The visit comes at the invitation of Mrs. Pavlová, who welcomed her Ukrainian counterpart to take part in the “Healthcare Initiative for Ukraine” conference.
The initiative on international medical partnerships was also deepened as a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Ukraine’s Coordination Center for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers and the Czech National Institute of Mental Health.
“Mental health for Ukraine is more than just a sector of care,” said Mrs. Zelenska. “It’s the lens through which we approach human capital development, community resilience, economic recovery, education, and national security.”
Zelenskyy used the visit to underscore the importance of maintaining unity between the U.S. and European allies in pressuring Russia to cease hostilities. “All wars end. We don’t want a prolonged war – we want victory and peace,” he said. “And with strong international solidarity, we can compel the aggressor to retreat.”
As The Gaze previously reported, the Czech Republic has officially stopped importing Russian oil, becoming the first European country to completely cut off dependence on the Druzhba pipeline after more than 60 years.