Prime Minister Fiala after Paris Meeting: Those Calling for Sanctions Removal Today are Helping Russia
Prime Minister Petr Fiala participated in Paris on Thursday, 27 March 2025, along with other world leaders, in a meeting on peace and security in Ukraine convened by French President Emmanuel Macron. The statesmen agreed on the need for a strong Ukrainian army to deter the Russian aggressor.
The peace talks of the so-called coalition of the willing, convened in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron, followed up on previous meetings of leaders in Paris and London. This time, the meeting focused on immediate support for Ukraine, possibilities for a ceasefire, and ensuring peace. "We have once again demonstrated the unity not only of European states, but also a very strong will to help Ukraine and achieve a just and lasting peace. There is complete agreement on the need to support a strong Ukrainian army, even in the long term, after a ceasefire is achieved," Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after the meeting.
The meeting was attended by presidents and prime ministers of three dozen countries, who also reassured each other that they continue to count on further deliveries of military material, as well as support for the Ukrainian defence industry and the exchange of important intelligence information. The leaders also discussed what needs to be done now. "The priority remains deliveries of military material, artillery ammunition, air defence systems, missiles, aircraft ammunition, and also support for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles directly in Ukraine. Recent developments show that Russia lacks sufficient will to agree to a ceasefire," the Prime Minister stated.
Petr Fiala, at the request of the meeting's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, also informed all participants about the details of the Czech ammunition initiative, which is very much respected aid to the attacked country and is also often mentioned in speeches by world leaders. "We are able to guarantee that this year we will deliver at least as many pieces as we delivered last year, which was a delivery of 1.5 million large-calibre ammunition including more than half a million 155-millimetre shells," said the Prime Minister.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also personally present in Paris and informed the other leaders that Ukraine is ready to agree to a ceasefire. "Russia, it seems, wants to exploit the situation and is interested in continuing to conquer Ukrainian territories. If Russia is interested in anything, it is the lifting of sanctions, but whoever calls for the lifting of sanctions today is helping Russia and standing on the side of aggression and the continuation of the war," concluded Petr Fiala.
