According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Czechia aims to donate tens of millions of euros that will help buy hundreds of thousands of artillery ammunition rounds for Ukraine, which is currently the most pressing need for Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Fiala announced on CNN Prima News television on Wednesday evening that this donation would amount to the higher hundreds of millions of Czech crowns, equivalent to the low tens of millions of euros.
“This roughly corresponds to the share that a country of our size and prosperity should put in,” Fiala said, as per Reuters, emphasizing the Czechia’s commitment to contributing an appropriate amount based on its economic standing and size.
The Czech team, consisting of government officials and private companies, seeks to secure at least 800,000 large-caliber ammunition rounds from countries worldwide, with initial deliveries to Ukraine anticipated by June, according to Reuters.
Who else involved?
This initiative has garnered support from approximately 18 countries, including Germany, which pledged the highest contribution thus far, amounting to 576 million euros for 180,000 artillery rounds. Germany’s contribution represents 40% of the total.
Greece is also preparing to send thousands of artillery rounds from its military stockpiles to Ukraine through a Czech-led initiative. The ammunition, valued at approximately €150 million ($163 million), is reportedly “inactive but usable,” and the Greek government is seeking approval from the relevant parliamentary committee to facilitate the transfer.
Why is it important?
Ukraine is facing a significant artillery ammunition shortage as it enters the third year of Russia’s invasion. The situation has been worsened by a six-month delay in US military aid and the European Union’s inability to fulfill its promises of providing 1 million shells. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces heavily depend on artillery fire along the vast 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.
Czech officials have indicated that the target number of ammunition rounds is still being determined and that more ammunition could be procured globally if additional funding is secured, as per Reuters.
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