On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Czech leader Andrej Babis announced that his country would no longer fund Ukraine’s armed forces from the state budget.
Andrej Babis on Further Funding of Arms for Ukraine
Andrej Babis said the Czech Republic will not further finance Ukraine’s armaments directly from the national budget. He noted that if his party comes to power and Czech weapons manufacturers want to export to Ukraine, the state will not intervene, but direct budget spending will cease. Babis explained that the Czech government lacks the money to support the republic, having already helped Ukraine directly and will now do so through the European Union.
Babis on Czech Ammunition Initiative
Babis also addressed the Czech ammunition initiative, which supplied the Ukrainian army with 3.5 million large-calibre rounds. Prague coordinates the mechanism and mediates purchases funded by a coalition of about fifteen states. After March elections, Babis softened his earlier critique, stating the initiative is unclear and that a private firm earned billions at the expense of Ukrainians. He argued the program should be run transparently by NATO member states.
Czech President on Ending the Ammunition Initiative
Babis, during his campaign, criticised the procurement of artillery shells as opaque and promised to end the initiative while in office. The Czech president condemned this decision, emphasizing the need for credibility as a NATO ally and supporter of Ukraine. The president warned that cutting or ending aid could harm the Czech Republic itself and cause far greater losses in Ukraine.