Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrives in Prague, to meet Pavel at Prague Castle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena arrived in Prague shortly before noon on Sunday for an official state visit, the Czech President's Office has confirmed. Zelenskyy was greeted by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský at Václav Havel Airport as he arrived.

Their arrival at the airport will be followed by a reception at Prague Castle, where Zelenskyy and his wife will meet with Czech President Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlová in the afternoon. On Monday, Zelenskyy will meet with other Czech leaders including Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

The visit had been kept under wraps for security reasons; Castle officials only confirmed the visit as Zelenskyy's plane landed in Prague. The visit comes nearly two years after Zelenskyy’s previous trip to the Czech Republic in July 2023.

Security around Zelenskyy's visit has been tight, with special arrangements made at Prague Castle. The entire castle complex is closed to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 4, with no access to ticket offices, information centers, gardens, or exhibits.

This level of security is rarely seen, Jindřich Forejt, a former Czech presidential protocol expert, told iDnes.cz. Similar measures were in place during Zelenskyy’s 2023 visit and for other high-profile international visits, such as those by U.S. or Russian presidents.

Czech police have also implemented additional measures, with hundreds of officers involved in ensuring the safety of both leaders. A spokesperson for the police mentioned that although there would be significant coordination for the visit, they did not anticipate major disruptions to traffic. Czech police, alongside the foreign police and other agencies, will oversee the logistics of the visit.

This visit is a testament to the strong diplomatic ties between the Czech Republic and Ukraine, particularly as the latter continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. After meeting with Pavel today at Prague Castle, Zelenskyy will meet other Czech officials on Monday.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová on Monday morning. He will then be received by Prime Minister Petr Fiala at the Government Office.

In the afternoon, Zelenskyy will meet with Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil and other members of the Senate. Topics of discussion will include ongoing Czech support for Ukraine, the ammunition initiative, prospects for a ceasefire, and postwar reconstruction.

During his previous visit in July 2023, the Ukrainian President thanked Czechia for its substantial contributions to his country's defense. Zelenskyy also expressed his hope for a future where Ukraine could ensure the safety of all its citizens and allow displaced Ukrainians to return home.

"I would like this to contribute to bringing us closer to peace in Ukraine," Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka said on CNN Prima today regarding Zelensky's visit. "Peace that will not be a capitulation for Ukraine, but peace that will mean the long-term conditions that Ukraine deserves after Russia's aggression."

Pavel previously visited Ukraine in March, visiting Odessa and Kyiv. His agenda included meetings with President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.