It states that the Senate “resolutely distances itself from the false and offensive statements of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic contained in his New Year's speech.”
In addition, the Senate distanced itself from the scandalous attempt to shift responsibility for the war in Ukraine, which was made during a visit to Kyiv by MP of the populist Motorists party Philip Turk (he arrived on January 9 together with Foreign Minister Piotr Macinka).
The Czech Senate reaffirmed its support for Ukraine as a country under attack and its readiness to continue key forms of assistance, in particular humanitarian support and the ammunition supply initiative.
The Senate also emphasized the importance of the Czech Republic's participation in the EU and NATO structures.
Context
In his New Year's speech, Okamura named the entourage of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “junta”which “builds toilets from gold,” and criticized the European Union for supporting Kyiv.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Vasily Zvarych called Okamura's statement “offensive and full of hatred.” The diplomat added that the words that the Czech speaker allowed himself regarding Ukraine were “undignified and absolutely unacceptable.”
The head of the Czech Foreign Ministry, Petr Macinka, subsequently stated that he “does not consider it appropriate for the ambassador of a foreign state to publicly evaluate the statements of one of the highest constitutional officials of the Czech Republic.” Czech Prime Minister Andrei Babis also expressed complaints against the Ukrainian ambassador.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Sibiga, stood up for Zvarych, saying that he “did absolutely right by reacting to the outrageous insults” against Ukraine and its leadership, “and he did it diplomatically.” “All our ambassadors are tasked with defending the dignity of Ukraine,” Sibiga emphasized.
On January 9, Matsinka visited Kyiv, where he met with Sibiga. At a joint press conference they stated that “turned the page” after recent exchanges of statements and will “communicate further.”
