Germany will help replace the heavy weapons equipment the Czech Republic provides to Ukraine during its war effort with Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed during a joint press conference in Berlin with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The German leader did not wish to disclose specific details, but according to Fiala, the agreement concerns heavy weapons.
“As far as arms supplies are concerned, we want to work closely together,” Scholz told journalists. “Czechia can provide weapons that originate from Russian production, which Ukraine could use immediately. We can help the Czech army maintain the necessary strength. We call it a fair exchange,” he added.
Fiala said that the joint project concerns the modernization of the Czech army and concrete support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and confirmed both sides will continue to negotiate on the exact form of cooperation. The Czech prime minister added that he was pleased to see the two sides reach an agreement so quickly, fulfilling the potential of being able to supply the Ukrainian army with weapons it urgently needs.
Germany is becoming more involved
Scholz passed over the question about the specific Czech weapons requirements by saying that both sides know what they want to do and are already far along the way in terms of talks.
The German government, which has long been reluctant to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine, has decided to become more involved in mass arms and equipment exchanges. Germany would thus compensate the allies for the military supplies they would provide to Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht recently explicitly mentioned a possibility that the exchange would involve Eastern European allies who are leaving their Soviet-made equipment to Ukraine.
