The coalition party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), including Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna, opposes the sale of L-159 aircraft to Ukraine, reports Ceske Noviny.
SPD chairman and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura announced this to journalists before today's coalition council meeting.
According to Okamura, the aircraft currently have low residual value, but their combat value is high. Additionally, acquiring replacements would cost much more than their sale, he noted.
President Petr Pavel said on 18 January that Ukraine proposed purchasing L-159 aircraft, which would be an opportunity for the Czech manufacturer. According to him, providing four aircraft out of the 24 the army has represents an acceptable level of risk.
Okamura emphasized these are not decommissioned aircraft but part of the army's armament. "The purchase value is very high, the residual is a fraction. We would have to buy the aircraft again anyway," Okamura said. He added that even the General Staff during the last electoral term was uncertain whether it would be appropriate to provide the aircraft.
According to the SPD chairman, during his visit to Ukraine, Pavel did not take into account the opinion of the government, which, unlike the former government of Petr Fiala, does not want to spend money on weapons for Ukraine. Information about the aircraft was also partially distorted by Ukrainian media, according to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.
"I do not agree with the sale, there are factual and professional reasons," Okamura stated. The position of Minister Zůna is also negative, he added.
According to Ukrainian media, Pavel spoke in Ukraine about providing several small aircraft for defense against drones, early warning devices, and generators in case of power outages from the regular grid.
Foreign Minister Petr Macinka told Czech Television on 18 January that the president did not consult the offer with the government.
Pavel rejected the criticism. "It is a sign of experienced people, and especially diplomats, that they verify information before reaching any conclusion. Especially when they decide to mentor the president of the republic," Pavel said. The aircraft have been the subject of Ukraine's interest for at least six months, and the current negotiations were a continuation of all previous negotiations between the Czech and Ukrainian sides, including Macinka's recent visit to Ukraine, he said.
President Pavel was in Lviv on 15 January, where he held meetings with Ukrainian officials. The next day he arrived in Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others.
