Czech President Petr Pavel warned that ending the country’s ammunition delivery initiative to Ukraine would harm both the Czech Republic and Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
His remarks followed the recent parliamentary election, where the ANO party, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, won 80 out of 200 seats and expressed intentions to halt the ammunition program, which they claim is overpriced and lacks transparency.
Pavel emphasized that reducing or stopping support would mainly hurt the Czech Republic and adversely affect Ukraine, potentially leading to more casualties.
The ammunition drive, supported by Western countries, is a key program for Ukraine that was championed by the previous government. Pavel, a former NATO official, remains a strong advocate for the initiative and suggested that Babis could review its operations.
He stressed the importance of considering the interests of the Czech Republic and its allies, including Ukraine, in future discussions. The government expected an increase in shipments in 2024, including a significant number of artillery shells.
With information from Reuters