Czech Republic Vows Continued Ammunition Support for Ukraine Amid Political Crossroads
The Czech Republic is extending its pivotal ammunition delivery program to Kyiv into 2026, though the country’s political future may determine whether that commitment holds.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Bloomberg.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský confirmed that Prague has already secured funding for another year of its international ammunition procurement scheme, which has helped narrow the artillery gap between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
“This initiative has been a battlefield game-changer,” Lipavský said in an interview at the Foreign Ministry, noting that Ukraine now fires one shell for every two launched by Russia, up dramatically from a 1-to-10 disadvantage in 2022.
The Czech-led effort, financed by 11 countries, aims to deliver 1.8 million artillery rounds this year alone.
But with parliamentary elections looming in October, the initiative’s future remains uncertain.
Leading the polls is former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a populist billionaire who has criticized military aid to Ukraine and opposed the reception of Ukrainian refugees.
His victory could significantly shift Prague’s foreign policy posture.
“The preservation of political consensus behind this effort is absolutely critical,” Lipavský stressed. “Without it, the momentum we’ve built could falter.”
Lipavský, who accused Babiš of “flirting with far-right populism” due to his ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and France’s National Rally, also highlighted the existential threat posed by a resurgent Kremlin.
“There is a growing understanding across Europe, led by Germany, France, and the UK, that we must be capable of defending ourselves,” he said. “Unity, preparedness, and credible military power are the only ways to deter Russian adventurism.”
As The Gaze reported earlier, at the GLOBSEC 2025 forum, Jan Lipavský stated that Ukraine is no longer merely a recipient of Western aid but a strategic partner in shaping European security.