Czech foreign minister arrives in Kyiv after train delay caused by Russian attack

The newly appointed Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has arrived in Ukraine on Friday 9 January, although his train to Kyiv was delayed due to the Russian attack on the night of 8-9 January.

As reported by Czech public broadcaster ČT24, Macinka announced his intention to visit Ukraine on Tuesday 6 January following a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha.

Because of Russia's overnight attack on Ukraine, the train carrying Macinka arrived in Kyiv with a delay.

The minister is accompanied on the trip by controversial MP Filip Turek of the Motorists for Themselves party, who had been considered for the post of foreign minister but was ultimately passed over in favour of Macinka.

On Tuesday, after a phone conversation with Macinka, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the two countries had agreed to "turn the page" following the scandal involving Tomio Okamura, Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

Macinka said he considered the issue of Okamura's controversial remarks closed.

"Mutual communication will continue through standard diplomatic channels and, if necessary, also at the personal level," the Czech diplomat said.

Macinka also said that Ukraine is interested in cooperation with Czechia in the defence sector, as well as in Czech participation in Ukraine's reconstruction.

It is also worth noting that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš attended the most recent meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on 6 January, after which he said that maintaining the Czech ammunition initiative was possible, although he had previously ruled it out.