The Czech Republic has significantly strengthened the Ukrainian armed forces in recent months, including delivering 89 tanks, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said today after the meeting of the leaders of the “Bucharest Nine” (nine Eastern European NATO member countries) and the US president Joe Biden in Warsaw.

During that meeting, the US president pledged to “defend every inch of NATO” to reassure the allies on the eastern wing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, almost a year after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Prague was one of the first and most ardent supporters of Kyiv.

Detailing Czech military aid for the first time, Fiala said his country has delivered to Ukraine 226 armored fighting vehicles, 38 self-propelled howitzers, 33 multiple missile launchers, six air defense systems and four helicopters. According to the Czech Prime Minister, the value of Czech military aid to Ukraine is estimated at around 40 billion crowns (€1.7 billion).

The US embassy in Prague announced last week that the US will support the Czech Republic with $200 million for military upgrades and replacement of the weapons systems it delivered to Ukraine.

At the same time, the Czech Republic is receiving Leopard 2A4s from Germany, as part of the exchange program that allows the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.

Prague has also agreed to repair armored vehicles for the Ukrainian army to bolster its fight against Russian invaders.

“Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right to self-defense against Russian aggression, to regain full control of its territory. We will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to this end, as long as necessary,” said the joint statement issued after the meeting in Warsaw.