Czech PM alters Paris speech on Kyiv shells to prevent leak via pro-Kremlin Slovak counterpart

The summit was convened by French President Emmanuel Macron on Feb. 26 to exchange information on military assistance to Ukraine. Representatives of about fifteen countries were initially expected to attend, but the number gradually rose to twenty-five, including Fico.

Speaking on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Fico said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was being “falsely demonized.”

When Fiala learned that Fico would be at the negotiating table, he decided to change the speech, crossing out sensitive information about the origin and price of non-European-made shells for Ukraine.

“Yes, we crossed it out,” a source in Czech diplomacy confirmed to Aktuálně.

Fiala reportedly shared the most sensitive information with several leaders separately in order to prevent strategic information from leaking to Russia through the Slovak prime minister.

The Czech delegation was also surprised that neutral countries such as Austria and Ireland were invited to Paris.

Fico has repeatedly spread Russian narratives about the war in Ukraine. He claimed that the war in 2014 allegedly began because of “Ukrainian Nazis.” He is convinced that Russia “will never leave Crimea and the territories it controls.”

In January, Fico said that Ukraine “must give” Russia part of its territory to end the war.

He also argues that “it is better for Ukraine and Russia to negotiate over the next ten years than to kill each other.”

Czech President Petr Pavel first announced the possibility of buying 800,000 shells for Ukraine on Feb.17. He said he had found half a million pieces of 155-millimeter ammunition and 300,000 pieces of 122-millimeter ammunition. Pavel did not name the countries that agreed to sell the shells.

A Ukrainian security official told NV that plans are in place to purchase more shells from South Korea and South Africa. The contract is estimated to cost around $2 billion.

So far, more than 15 countries have pledged funding for the ammunition, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Norway, as well as non-European allies such as Canada. While Prague identifies available ammunition worldwide, other countries provide the necessary funding. The Czech Republic will then coordinate delivery to Ukrainian battlefields.

According to Fiala, the purchase of 300,000 rounds has been confirmed and a further 200,000 have been pledged. The goal is to deliver the ammunition to Ukraine this year.

“I do not want to promise the impossible because even in an ideal situation, it will take months to successfully get the material to the frontline, where it is most needed,” Fiala said.

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

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