In a conversation with Radio Svoboda, the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, noted that the production of the required number of shells takes time, but Ukraine needs ammunition now.
"We cannot wait for European companies, so we are trying to find ammunition wherever we can and deliver it to Ukraine as quickly as possible. But at the same time, we are increasing our own capacities," Pavel explained.
He expressed optimism that European manufacturers would soon be capable of producing "the necessary amount of ammunition."
"In the near future, European companies will be able to produce the necessary amount of ammunition to replenish the stocks of European countries, as well as to provide Ukraine with ammunition if it still needs them in the near future," the president added.
The Czech Republic has found up to 800,000 shells available internationally and has launched an initiative to transfer these to Ukraine, contingent upon financial assistance from other countries.
This initiative has seen participation from several Western nations.
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said that, according to the signals received by Kyiv, the Ukrainian military will already feel an increase in the supply of ammunition within the framework of the Czech initiative in the near future.
Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on national security issues Tomas Poyar stated that the ammunition purchased within the framework of the Czech initiative may arrive in Ukraine already in June.
