On Friday, the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that his country would be sending combat helicopters and training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jet fighters to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The Czech Republic has already provided Ukraine with 676 pieces of heavy weaponry and more than four million units of medium- and large-calibre ammunition since the invasion started in February 2022. The Prime Minister also said that the EU and NATO member of 10.8 million people would be endorsing Ukraine's bid to join NATO at the upcoming summit in Vilnius next week.

The Czech Republic’s commitment to aid Ukraine is a significant contribution in the ongoing war with Russia. PM Fiala said that Czechaid would amount to “at least one tank, armoured vehicle or a similar piece of equipment for each day of the war”, and that the Czech Republic would also help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 planes.

He further stated that the whole democratic world should also provide support. The Czech Prime Minister’s statements came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Thursday talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a major arms maker and ally.

He then visited Prague to meet Czech President Petr Pavel, a former NATO general. The Ukrainian President is now headed to Turkey for his first visit since the Russian invasion and talks with counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Czech Republic’s commitment to aid Ukraine is a testament to the strong relationship between the two countries. The Czech Republic has also accepted almost half a million Ukrainian refugees, providing much needed assistance in the face of an ongoing crisis.

Mr. Fiala said that he expects all NATO allies to support Ukraine’s effort to join the alliance, and the Vilnius summit next week should be a significant indicator of the level of support the country will receive. The Czech Republic’s commitment to aiding Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion is a powerful contribution to the ongoing war and an example of the strength of the relationship between the two countries.

The upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius is sure to be a significant event in the history of the war, and will show the level of commitment that other NATO allies have to the cause.