Czech defense minister cancels US visit for army chief over support for Ukraine jets
Photo: Czech Aero L-159 ALCA aircraft (wikimedia.org)
In Czechia, Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna canceled a planned visit to the United States by the country’s Chief of General Staff, Karel Řehka, after the general expressed support for transferring jets to Ukraine, Respekt reports.
As the senior source in the Ministry of Defense told the outlet, Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna canceled the visit of Chief of General Staff Karel Řehka to the United States.
According to the source, Zůna decided on a retaliation against Řehka, who publicly contradicted the government’s position under Andrej Babiš. The government had claimed that transferring four L-159 aircraft to Ukraine was impossible.
The visit was canceled after Řehka publicly disputed Zůna’s claims that handing over the jets would compromise Czechia’s defense capabilities and that the army opposed the transfer. Neither Zůna nor Řehka commented on the report.
Czech President Petr Pavel recently clashed with Babiš's government over the possible transfer of L-159 training and combat aircraft to Ukraine. In particular, Pavel had previously stated that the transfer of aircraft was possible.
However, some time later, Babiš spoke out, saying he had closed the discussion on the possible delivery of L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister, Kyiv would not receive them.
This is not the first attempt by Babiš to limit Czech assistance to Ukraine. He has repeatedly opposed extending the country’s ammunition initiative for Ukraine.
President Pavel countered, warning that halting the program would have serious consequences for Czechia and increase casualties in Ukraine.
Ultimately, Babiš confirmed that the ammunition initiative would continue, provided other countries fund it. Effectively, nothing will change, as confirmed by the Czech Foreign Ministry.
