Czech Republic refuses to sell Ukraine L-159 attack aircraft, Babiš criticizes President for "amateurishness"

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš opposed the sale of four L-159 light attack aircraft to Ukraine, calling such discussions inappropriate. It was reported by Ceske Noviny.

The prime minister criticized President Petro Pavel for raising the issue in Kyiv without the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to Babiš, these planes are necessary for the defense of the Czech Republic itself, and the army's position on their preservation remains unchanged.

"I don't know why he didn't take the proper documents so that the army could tell him the same thing as the former defense minister said - that our army needs these planes," Babiš said.

The Defense Ministry supported the prime minister, explaining that the L-159 is an important part of the national air defense system, especially for intercepting drones. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka compared the president's behavior to a "bull in a china shop," and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna confirmed that the planes are critically important for Czech air defense. According to him, the planes have only reached a fifth of their useful life, so selling them would be strategically disadvantageous.

At the same time, political circles say that the refusal deprives the Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody of the chance to test the aircraft in combat and find new buyers. Nevertheless, the government has officially confirmed its decision not to transfer the aircraft.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Czech President Petr Pavel said that his country would soon provide Ukraine with combat aircraft to improve the effectiveness of countering drones launched by the aggressor country russia.

Also on January 6, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said, that Prague is ready to continue the initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, but the country will no longer allocate its own funds for this.

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