Blinken meets with Czech FM Lipavský to discuss Ukraine aid, transfer of ammunition to UA

U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, discussed support for Ukraine over the phone on March 13, a message on State Department website said.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister reaffirmed our countries’ resolute support for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s aggression and discussed coordination on Czechia’s defense modernization," the State Department reported.

Read also: Czechia can purchase 200,000 additional artillery shells for Ukraine — PM Fiala

Continued humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians and Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international arena were also discussed.

800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine purchased as part of the Czechia’s initiative will be supplied at the front in the near future, Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on March 3.

These shells could reach Ukrainian battlefields as early as June, said Tomas Pojar, a national security adviser to the Czech Prime Minister, on March 12.

Read also: US announces first Ukraine military aid package since late 2023

Czechia had purchased 800,000 artillery shells from third countries to be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks, German newspaper Bild reported on March 11.

Czech President Petr Pavel announced the possibility of purchasing 800,000 shells for Ukraine on Feb. 17. He stated that he found half a million units of 155-millimeter ammunition and 300,000 of 122-millimeter ammunition. Pavel did not name the countries that agreed to sell shells. A number of European countries joined his initiative.

Ukraine plans to purchase shells from South Korea and South Africa with the value of the contract being about $2 billion, Ukrainian power bloc representative told NV.

It was announced on March 7 that the Allies collected all the necessary money to purchase shells.

Read also: Ammunition under Prague’s initiative could reach Ukrainian battlefields in June – Czech PM adviser

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine