The Czech Republic will not sell or donate light fighter jets to Ukraine to shoot down drones, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said today, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
In this way, Babis rejected a plan launched by President Petr Pavel. Pavel said during a visit to Kiev on Friday that his country could soon provide several planes, adding over the weekend that Ukraine had offered to buy L-159 subsonic fighter jets.
Babiš told a news conference after a government meeting today that the Czech military needed the planes and they could not be provided.
"The planes cannot be provided and we have no others," Babis said.
Peter Pavel is a strong supporter of Kiev. Babis, who returned to power after winning last year's parliamentary elections, says he will not provide military aid to Ukraine.
The potential fighter jet deal with Ukraine has been criticized by Babis' coalition partners from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party.
Babiš stressed that Prague's position is not actually changing, as the previous Czech government, which was more pro-Ukrainian, also refused to send L-159 fighter jets to Kiev.