The Czech Republic is aiming to deliver 180,000 pieces of artillery ammunition to Ukraine next month, Czech President Petr Pavel said on Wednesday.
Speaking to German media, Pavel said the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine is making progress, and more deliveries will follow in the coming months.
“I and our Prime Minister Petr Fiala assume that the first shipment of nearly 180,000 pieces of ammunition will be delivered in June, and further contracts are concluded for five to six-digit number of shells,” he told public broadcaster ARD.
Pavel argued that it was necessary for Western countries to step up their military support for Ukraine, in order to increase pressure on Russia to end the war, which began in February 2022, and sit down at the negotiating table.
“It is essential to support Ukraine by all means so that it can make it clear to the Russian aggressor that there is no point in continuing the war; that Russia will not achieve any further military successes. As long as Russia still has any hope of success, there would be no reason for Russia to engage in peace talks,” he said.
The Czech Republic launched an initiative in February to provide up to 1 million artillery shells and other ammunition to Ukraine, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on European allies to step up their military support, and deliver significantly more artillery shells.
