ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday arrived in the Czech capital Prague on an official visit.

In a statement on X following his arrival, Zelenskyy said that he has meetings scheduled with his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and others, including members of the country’s parliament and the Ukrainian community in the Czech Republic.

The Ukrainian president expressed his country’s gratitude to the Czech Republic for its support for Kyiv, as well as for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

“The Czech artillery initiative has proven effective, and we will continue this effort,” he further said, noting: “Another area of cooperation is the development of our military aviation, expanding pilot training programs, and supporting our F-16 fleet.”

“Together with the Czech Republic and other members of the aviation coalition, we are preparing good news for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy noted.

He also said that, during the talks in Prague, they will discuss diplomatic efforts and joint pressure on Russia to achieve a lasting ceasefire and an end to the Ukraine war.

Zelenskyy was welcomed by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, who described the Ukrainian president on X as the "leader of the free world."

Zelenskyy’s visit was declared by the Czech presidency in an earlier statement, which said Pavel would receive his counterpart and Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska in Prague Castle on Sunday afternoon.