Czech-purchased artillery ammunition for Ukraine to arrive in June
Photo: Reuters
The ammunition purchased for the Ukrainian forrces at the Czech initiative may arrive in Ukraine closer to June, says national security advisor Tomáš Poyar.
Previously, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that the first batch of 300,000 shells had already been approved. Prague may transfer another 200,000 ammunition units.
"I don't want to promise the impossible, because even in an ideal situation, it will take months to successfully deliver materials to the front line."
Poyar disclosed the details of the assistance in an interview.
"The promised money has to come, and the contracts have to be signed. When the contracts are signed, it will take several weeks to deliver [the shells] to Ukraine.
Starting in June, supplies can come in."
The minister refused to disclose the origin of the ammunition, saying that the ammunition is sought worldwide "where it is available at a reasonable price and of reasonable quality."
Russia will try to disrupt the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, so the ministry is trying to keep all other details secret.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says the Czech initiative is to be implemented throughout the year.
"Тобто перші снаряди почнуть надходити, скажемо так, в осяжній перспективі. А потім протягом року будуть надходити далі нові партії", — сказав він.
Meetings with representatives of Czechia are scheduled for this week to present a plan for the supply of ammunition. Kuleba says there are other initiatives to supply ammunition.
One was discussed at a meeting of the foreign ministers of France, the Baltic states, and Ukraine in Vilnius. Kuleba "urged to start raising money for it today."
Czech President Petr Pavel recently said that 800,000 artillery rounds purchased from third countries could be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks.
