Czech foreign minister arrives in Kyiv as train delayed by Russian attack

It was noted that Macinka announced plans to visit Ukraine as early as January 6, after he spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. Macinka did not arrive alone — as a member of the Motorists for Themselves Party, he was accompanied by parliamentarian Filip Turek from the same political force.

Separately, Ukrainian Railways published photos of Macinka's arrival in Kyiv. The company said the train was delayed due to weather conditions and a Russian attack.

"Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka arrived in Kyiv on his first official visit. The journey was difficult this time: due to an attack and challenging weather conditions, the train arrived with a delay," the statement said.

photo: Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways)

photo: Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways)

Regarding the Okamura scandal, Macinka said in an interview with a television channel on January 7 that Czechia and Ukraine had discussed the issue and consider it closed, with the incident exhausted, as the shared task is to improve relations between the two countries. The minister also expressed support for Ukraine, as Kyiv is resisting Russian aggression.

"Mutual communication will continue through standard diplomatic channels and, if necessary, at a personal level... People are dying there (in Ukraine, – ed.), and therefore we need to give Ukrainians and Ukraine itself much more space, much more help and support," he said.

Okamura and the scandal: What is known

Czech parliamentary speaker Tomio Okamura, known for his anti-Ukrainian stance, made disgraceful statements about Ukraine and its leadership in his New Year's address. Okamura's remarks prompted a strong reaction in Ukraine: Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych called them disgraceful, unworthy, and copied from Russian propaganda narratives.

The Czech Foreign Ministry planned to summon the Ukrainian ambassador on January 5, after which Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced plans to respond in kind by summoning the Czech chargé d'affaires. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ambassador Zvarych had done absolutely the right thing.

Eventually, Sybiha and Macinka held a conversation during which they agreed to "turn the page." Meanwhile, Okamura now faces the prospect of losing his post, as opposition forces in the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of the Czech parliament) have already announced plans to initiate his dismissal over the disgrace he caused.