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Czech security adviser says funding for 800,000 shells for Ukraine not yet fully secured

Czech national security adviser Tomáš Pojar clarifies that funding for President Petr Pavel’s initiative to supply Ukraine with 800,000 artillery rounds only covers the first batch, despite pledges from 18 countries.

byYuri Zoria

08/03/2024

2 minute read

Ordnance for M777 gun. Source: US Embassy in Ukraine

155mm ordnance for M777 gun. Photo: US Embassy in Ukraine

Czech security adviser says funding for 800,000 shells for Ukraine not yet fully secured

Czech national security adviser Tomáš Pojar indicated that the total cost of the Czech initiative to purchase 800,000 artillery ammunition rounds for Ukraine is not yet fully covered, suggesting that President Petr Pavel initially only considered the cost of the first delivery, according to Denik N.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February, Czech President Petr Pavel said his country had found about 800,000 artillery shells abroad that could be sent to Ukrainian troops within a few weeks. Due to a months-long delay in US military aid, Ukraine has been experiencing shell shortages in its efforts to counter Russian aggression.

On 7 March, Czech President Pavel announced that, after the Norwegian contribution, the financing for this initiative is now fully secured, thanks to pledges from 18 countries, stating that the ammunition should be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

President Pavel refrained from specifying the contributions from individual states, citing fairness concerns as discussions with them had not taken place. He noted that Norway had matched the required amount with a recent pledge. Pavel emphasized that the responsibility now lies with Czech companies and the defense ministry to expedite the process, as per CT24.

But National Security Adviser Pojar doubts that the money needed to buy all the ammunition will be raised:

“I assume that the President meant covering the first batch, not our entire initiative, we have not covered that in any case,” Pojar, who is coordinating the initiative, told the Daily N.

Earlier, Belgium announced the allocation of €200 million to the initiative, while the Netherlands pledged €250 million and Norway $153 million. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and French President Emmanuel Macron also announced their countries’ decision to join the initiative but did not disclose the future contribution amount.

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