V4 parliamentary leaders meet in Prague

Top parliamentarians from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary were expected to reaffirm their support for Ukraine during a meeting in Prague on Thursday.

Poland's lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia.

PAP/Paweł Supernak

Senior lawmakers from the four Central European countries, which together form the regional Visegrad Group (V4), gathered in the Czech capital to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and future cooperation within their region, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

📸W stolicy Czech rozpoczęło się spotkanie przewodniczących parlamentów Grupy Wyszehradzkiej i Ukrainy. Polskę reprezentują marszałek Sejmu @szymon_holownia oraz marszałek Senatu @M_K_Blonska. 🇵🇱🇨🇿🇸🇰🇭🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/PzgOtMHg5M

— Sejm RP🇵🇱 (@KancelariaSejmu) February 28, 2024

Representing Poland at the gathering were lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia and upper-house Speaker Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.

🇵🇱🇺🇦 Marszałek Sejmu @szymon_holownia rozmawiał z szefem ukraińskiej Rady Najwyższej @r_stefanchuk. Politycy spotkali się w Pradze przy okazji udziału w szczycie przewodniczących parlamentów Grupy Wyszehradzkiej i Ukrainy. W spotkaniu dwustronnym uczestniczył także stojący na… pic.twitter.com/6VVHOm2zUO

— Sejm RP🇵🇱 (@KancelariaSejmu) February 28, 2024

The head of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, also arrived in Prague to join the meeting, the IAR news agency reported.

Important meeting with Marshal of the @KancelariaSejmu 🇵🇱 @szymon_holownia.

A productive conversation. First of all, we discussed the situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border and the role of parliaments in this issue.

Blocking the border in times of war sends a bad signal and… pic.twitter.com/a7Z6OttsDr

— Ruslan Stefanchuk (@r_stefanchuk) February 29, 2024

🇨🇿Czech Republic.

I am starting my working visit, where I will take part in the Summit of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Visegrad Group + Ukraine.

I will also have a number of bilateral meetings aimed at ensuring additional international assistance and support for Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/QoqwLAooeB

— Ruslan Stefanchuk (@r_stefanchuk) February 28, 2024

On Tuesday, the prime ministers of the V4 countries, including Poland's Donald Tusk, discussed the group's support for Ukraine at a summit in Prague.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Thursday is day 736 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP