The populist ANO party, led by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, currently leads opinion polls ahead of October elections. Prague's liberal government warns that Babiš might align with pro-Kremlin leaders like Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Slovakia's Robert Fico amid the ongoing all-out Russo-Ukrainian war.
Karel Havlíček, deputy leader of ANO questioned allegedly unsatisfactory shell quality and pricing.
"We have information from the military sector that the quality is not ideal and that it is just extremely expensive," he told FT.The initiative, announced by Czech President Petr Pavel, has already delivered 520,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition to Kyiv in 2024, according to Czech deputy foreign minister Eduard Hulicius. An additional 300,000 shells are planned for delivery.
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha acknowledged receiving "up to 80%" of promised shells for 2024, as reported by European Pravda. Despite reports of some poor-quality shells, Ukrainian officials indicated overall satisfaction with the deliveries.
The Prague-based Czechoslovak Group, Central Europe's largest ammunition supplier, reported meeting "almost all of its commitments," citing logistics capacity limitations for delivery delays.
Kristýna Helm, vice-president of the Czech defense and security industry association, characterized the initiative as a stop-gap measure, noting Europe's inability to supply large-caliber ammunition independently.
Havlíček claimed the initiative might become irrelevant if US President Donald Trump allegedly secures a ceasefire with Russia.
"When we will be in government, it will be the end of the war and should it not be the end, then it will be really bad for Ukraine," he stated.In 2024, Andrej Babiš faced criticism for joining the "Patriots for Europe" alliance with far-right Austrian leader Herbert Kickl and Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán - the Kremlin's biggest ally in the EU, raising concerns over his alignment with Moscow-friendly politics. Related:
- “Big Russia brings big problems”: Habsburg urges Europe to prepare for empire’s collapse
- Czech opposition aims to halt Ukraine shell supply initiative
- Prague seeks EU allies for fresh Ukraine ammo procurement initiative in 2025
- Ukrainian FM: Czech initiative delivers 80% of promised ammunition to Ukraine
- Ukraine receives artillery shells funded by a Slovak crowdfunding initiative
- Far-right pro-Russian party wins Austrian elections
- Kremlin’s Trojan dove: how Russia uses “peace” to aid its war against Ukraine
- Russia has opened up another front in the Czech Republic (2015)
