The Czech International Initiative to Procure Ammunition for Ukraine is at risk. The reason is the political games of the Czech opposition, which is increasingly leaning to pro -Russian positions.
According to Financial Times , the Ana Prime Minister of Andrey Babysh, who is currently leading in public opinion polls before October elections, has promised to suspend the initiative to purchase shells in the event of arrival.
The deputy leader Karel Gavlichek said the initiative needs to be viewed, because they say that shells are too expensive and do not always meet the standards.
"We have information from the military sector that the quality is not perfect and that it is simply extremely expensive," Gavlichek said.
But the facts testify to another: the Ukrainian government officials and the military noted that the initiative allowed to close the critical shortage of ammunition in 2023, when Russian troops intensified the offensive. Despite the isolated cases of low quality shells, Kyiv has remained satisfied with the deliveries.
The Czech government warns that if Babis wins the elections, Prague can change the course and follow other European policies that sympathize with the Kremlin. Ano has already departed from European liberals and joined the far -right group, which includes Viktor Orban, Robert Fitzo and the future Chancellor of Austria Herbert Kikl.
Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Gulitsius sharply criticized the opposition's position:
"This is the same as the doctor blocks the patient with oxygen, because in the atmosphere and so enough air."
But Gavlichek insists that the Czech Republic has to change the approach, especially if Donald Trump (who has previously hinted at the possibility of termination of military assistance in Kiev) will return to the White House.
“When we are in power, it will be the end of the war. And if not, then everything will be very bad for Ukraine, ” the politician said.
Despite political risks, the government in Prague continues to look for funding for new ammunition supplies. Thanks to the efforts of the Czech Republic last year, Ukraine received 520,000 shells of 155 mm caliber. In 2025, another 300,000 units should be received.
Initially, the Czech Republic planned to transfer all 800,000 ammunition in 2024, but due to financial difficulties and fierce competition in the market (in particular from Russia), the implementation had to be stretched over time.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky stressed that Prague is not going to stop and is already considering new mechanisms for purchasing shells.
The political reversal of the AB to the direction of far -right and pro -Kremlin forces threatens both Ukraine and European security as a whole. If the Babish wins the elections, the Czech Republic can not only block the initiative with ammunition, but also turn into another ally Orban and Fitzo.
For Kiev, this means potential losses in the supply of critically important ammunition, and for Europe - a new challenge to fight the pro -Kremliv forces that are trying to weaken Ukraine's support in its struggle for independence.
