Fiala urges government to reconsider stance on ammunition initiative for Ukraine

Former prime minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats) has called on his successor Andrej Babiš (ANO) to reconsider the government’s decision not to financially contribute to the Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine.

“Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but also for the free and democratic future of the Czech Republic,” Fiala told reporters on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

The initiative, launched in 2023, focuses on supplying artillery shells to Ukraine, which faced significant shortages compared with Russia at the outset of the war in February 2022. The Czech Republic has cooperated closely with the Netherlands and Denmark on the project.

Last year, Ukraine received 1.8 million rounds of ammunition under the scheme. The new administration has agreed to continue running the initiative, but without financial contributions from Czechia.