US EditionCzechs will not sell Ukraine jets to fight drones, prime minister says
- On Jan. 19, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Czechia will not sell its L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, despite President Petr Pavel advocating the sale after his visit.
- Defense Minister Jaromir Zuna said the L-159 subsonic attack aircraft and trainer jets still have about 15 years of service life and the army needs them, while Kyiv offered to buy four of the Czech military’s 24 jets.
- Senior government officials reacted that Foreign Minister Petr Macinka criticized the president for raising the sale prospect outside his authority, yet affirmed continued ammunition coordination with Kyiv after his early January visit.
- The move affects Aero Vodochody and Czech exports by blocking Kyiv's offer to buy four jets and closing a key opportunity for the Czech defence industry, but Czechia will continue coordinating the ammunition initiative for Ukraine.
- The split underscores domestic tension as President Petr Pavel criticized the refusal to sell jets, while negotiations have lasted half a year and Czech officials visited Kyiv in early January.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Czechia First: Babiš Blocks Jet Sale to Ukraine
The Czech Republic will not sell its subsonic L-159 jets to Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s offer over the weekend, citing the needs of its own armed forces. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Monday that the aircraft remain necessary, dismissing criticism claiming that they are going unused. Citing information from his defence minister and coalition partner, Babiš said, “the aircraft have a service life of about 15 more years and the army needs them.”…
Cehia will not sell Ukrainian light warplanes L-159, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on 19 January, despite the fact that Czech President Peter Paul supported this measure.
Czechs will not sell Ukraine jets to fight drones, prime minister says
The Czech Republic will not sell or donate to Ukraine light combat planes that could shoot down incoming drones, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday, rejecting a plan outlined by President Petr Pavel.
According to SPD chairman Tomi Okamura, the party rejects the sale of L-159 aircraft to Ukraine. According to him, the residual value of the aircraft is "fractional", while their combat value is considerable. President Petr Pavel spoke about the possible sale of the aircraft to Ukraine during his visit to the country last week.
Czech President Petr Pavel said that his country could sell Ukraine small combat aircraft L-159. But his government does not support such an idea.
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