Ukraine Opens Unity Hub in Czechia, Plans More in Other Countries
Ukraine and the Czech Republic signed an agreement to establish a unity centre for Ukrainians in Prague. The plans include centres in several other countries.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the press conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Prague.
This is the second such centre in Europe. Its goal is to keep Ukrainians abroad connected to Ukraine and facilitate their return
‘I would like to recognise the efforts of the government towards the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic. The opening of the Ukrainian hub is being prepared, and the decision has just been signed. The hub in Prague is the centre of our national life in the Czech Republic, the centre of increasing ties between Ukraine and the Czech Republic. I am grateful to the government and the entire Czech Republic for such sincere support for Ukraine, for respect for our people,’ Zelenskyy said.
The document on the establishment of a ‘centre of national unity’ or ‘unity hub’ for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic was signed by Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov on behalf of Ukraine and by Minister of the Interior Vit Rakusan on behalf of the Czech Republic.
At a press conference, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that such centres would be opened in ‘many countries where there is a large presence of Ukrainian citizens’.
He named Germany, where the process has already begun, the Czech Republic, Spain and Poland, and noted that the UK could become another such country.
‘This is an ongoing work. I only understand when it started - I don't know when it will end, how many such hubs we will need to keep in touch with Ukrainians abroad,’ Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He noted that in these centres, Ukrainians will be able to receive legal advice and ‘find a place for themselves’ in Ukraine, including in terms of employment. The President expressed hope that many Ukrainians would return to Ukraine after the hot phase of the war.
Petr Fiala, for his part, noted that 160,000 Ukrainian citizens are currently working in the Czech Republic.
As The Gaze reported earlier, during Czech President Petr Pavel's visit to Odesa, Russian troops massively attacked the Ukrainian city with drones.