PRAGUE (AP) 鈥 Four Central European countries remain deeply divided over how to resolve Russia's war against Ukraine, their foreign ministers said Thursday.
The foreign ministers from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia met Thursday and discussed a Czech plan to acquire ammunition that Ukraine badly needs from third countries outside the European Union.
鈥淚t鈥檚 necessary to boost support for Ukraine in all areas including military assistance,鈥 Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.
Under the plan, the Czechs seek to obtain 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine. Czech leaders previously said the first shells should be delivered to Ukraine no later than June.
At least 18 countries have joined the initiative, Czech leaders have previously said.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called the Czech plan an 鈥渆xcellent idea.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy to contribute,鈥 he said. Sikorski said Poland would contribute funds as well as help deliver the ammunition to the front.
But the foreign ministers of Hungary and Slovakia said they are not ready to change their strict refusal to provide arms to Ukraine.
鈥淗ungary has not and will not send any weapons to Ukraine,鈥 Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
Slovakia鈥檚 view has not changed because 鈥渢he conflict doesn鈥檛 have a military solution,鈥 its foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, said.
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