The scandal surrounding the Czech president's statement on the transfer of aircraft to Kiev is expanding

Criticism from the country's Foreign Minister Petr Matsinka on the issue of the possible transfer of Czech aircraft to Ukraine is inappropriate. This was stated by the President of the Czech Republic Peter Pavel.

Pavel commented on the words of the foreign minister that the president did not consult with the government about the proposal to transfer airplanes to Kiev and "behaved like an elephant in a china shop."

"Experienced people, and especially diplomats, are distinguished by the fact that they check the information before making any conclusions. Especially when they decide to advise the President of the republic," he said.

Pavel noted that Ukraine has been interested in airplanes for at least six months, and his current negotiations are a continuation of all previous negotiations between the Czech and Ukrainian sides, including Macinka's recent visit to Kiev. According to him, in the past, options for obtaining aircraft on loan and or as a gift were discussed, but this time Vladimir Zelensky offered to purchase them, which could speed up negotiations.

The President of the Czech Republic also recalled that, according to legislative norms, the army can only transfer equipment that it considers unnecessary, but no country has acted in this way in helping Ukraine. According to Pavel, in the current situation it is more important to talk about what will not jeopardize the defense capability of the Czech Republic. He also believes that the provision of four L-159 aircraft out of 24 available to the army is an acceptable level of risk.

"Of course, this is a matter for the government, but I see in this not only an opportunity to significantly help Ukraine, but also an exceptional opportunity for the Czech Republic… If the aircraft prove to be effective in the fight against UAVs, this will be the best recommendation for their manufacturer, Aero Vodokhody. It can be expected that other countries will also show interest in these aircraft ... "We should not hinder the opportunities opening up to our industry and the Czech Republic," said Pavel the president, noting that he would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Andrei Babis.

Earlier, during the visit to The Czech leader promised to provide Ukraine with several small aircraft to protect Kiev from UAVs, early warning devices and generators in case of a power outage. After that, Foreign Minister Matsinka criticized the president for this, which said that the president did not consult with the government about this proposal and "behaved like an elephant in a china shop."