Babiš rules out further state funding for weapons to Ukraine

ANO leader Andrej Babiš said on Wednesday, that if he takes office as prime minister, his government would no longer provide direct budget funding for weapons to Ukraine. He argued that the Czech Republic already contributes 60 billion crowns annually to the EU, which supports Ukraine, adding that Czechia now lacks funds to meet its own needs.  He said he had no problem with Czech companies exporting arms to Ukraine.

Speaking about the Czech ammunition initiative that has supplied artillery shells to Ukraine, Babiš said it was “a good idea in principle,” but should have been carried out directly by NATO member states and in a more transparent way. He claimed that a private entity profited from the initiative by “tens of billions.”

Ukraine received 1.5 million artillery shells through the Czech initiative last year, and 1.1 million so far this year.