Overview
- Petr Macinka met Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych in Prague in what he called a serious atmosphere and said he plans a phone call with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned Czech chargé d’affaires Benjamin Ziga as a mirror step and emphasized constructive engagement, with a ministers’ call expected soon.
- Tomio Okamura’s New Year address denounced aid to Ukraine, used inflammatory language about President Volodymyr Zelensky, and rejected Ukraine’s EU membership bid.
- Czech opposition parties have begun collecting signatures to seek Okamura’s removal from the speakership following the backlash to his remarks.
- Both capitals stress that individual politicians’ statements should not damage practical cooperation, even as Prague’s new ANO–SPD–Motorists coalition prompts scrutiny of future Ukraine policy.