Czech arms companies will produce assault rifles and ammunition in Ukraine, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Chmygal announced today during a visit to Prague.
Production is the result of agreements signed by Ukraine with the Czech groups Sellier & Bellot and Colt CZ.
"It's important to supply our army," said Chmygal, referring to the agreement with the Sellier & Bellot group, cited by the French agency AFP.
The agreement provides for the construction of a munitions factory in Ukraine.
"The second agreement concerns the production of assault rifles in Ukraine by the Colt CZ group," added Chmygal, who was speaking alongside Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
An exact timetable was not immediately announced.
"For us, it is important to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. But we are well aware that it is also fighting for the security of Europe," said Fiala.
Ukraine, whose war effort is heavily dependent on Western aid, wants to develop its military industry to be able to produce ammunition and weapons and rely on its forces to confront the Russian invaders.
The Franco-German armaments group KNDS, which manufactures Caesar cannons, announced at the beginning of June the creation of a branch in Ukraine to produce equipment and spare parts there over time.
The construction of weapons in Ukraine is all the more important as Western aid suffered several blocks at the end of 2023 and the beginning of this year, due to political disputes and logistical problems, according to AFP.
There is still a major problem to be resolved in terms of the development of a military industry, since the entire Ukrainian territory is within the reach of Russian missiles and 'drones'.
For months, Ukraine has been demanding that the West provide it with a large number of anti-aircraft defense systems so that it can defend itself from attacks and protect strategic locations, civilian infrastructure and cities.
Prague is one of Kiev's main partners and the Czech Government has launched an international initiative to buy artillery shells for Ukraine outside Europe.
The decision was taken after the European Union was unable to deliver one million munitions to Ukraine that it had promised by the end of March.
The initiative involves 18 countries, including Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Promoters raised around 1.8 billion dollars (1.6 billion euros, at current exchange rates) to buy 500,000 cartridges this year.
The Czech Republic announced it hopes to increase the total to 800,000 rounds.
