Donations to a Czech crowdfunding initiative supplying weapons to Ukraine rose sharply following an anti-Ukraine New Year’s address by Czech lower house speaker Tomio Okamura, according to organisers.
Okamura’s address drew criticism in Czechia and abroad. He called Ukraine’s leadership a “junta,” accused its officials of stealing while building “toilets out of gold,” repeated Russian talking points about the war being “completely senseless,” and called for an end to Czech arms deliveries to Kyiv.
Donations surge after speech
Martin Ondráček, head of the Dárek pro Putina (“Gift for Putin”) initiative, told Ukrinform the speech on 1 January prompted unusually high contributions: 780,000 Czech crowns ($38,000 USD) on the first day and 954,000 ($46,000 USD) the next.
He said these figures were far above donations during the same period last year and reflected a recurring pattern in which public insults or threats against Ukraine spur support. The initiative raised 61 million crowns ($2.9 million USD) in December alone.
Public backlash and calls for removal
More than 50,000 people in Czechia signed a public letter apologising for his remarks, and opposition politicians are considering raising the issue of his removal from office.
The Czech government has defended Okamura’s right to speak, while emphasising that official foreign policy remains under the prime minister and cabinet.
Diplomatic fallout
Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych condemned the speech as offensive and influenced by Russian propaganda. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked Ambassador Zvarych for defending Ukraine’s leadership in response to Okamura’s remarks.
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said he and Sybiha had a phone call to discuss future cooperation and agreed to continue dialogue through standard diplomatic channels.
Macinka to visit Kyiv
Macinka plans to visit Kyiv soon, sending a signal of support to Ukraine while navigating tensions within the governing coalition over SPD’s anti-Ukraine stance and ANO’s continued support.
Macinka also discussed public attitudes toward Ukrainians in Czechia and said his visit would include further talks on improving perceptions and coordination between the two countries.
He emphasised that, despite criticism of previous Czech governments for prioritising Ukraine, his approach will maintain continuity with past policy while refraining from dialogue or trade with Russia for the duration of the war.
Czech-Ukraine relations: from leading ally to uncertain future
The Czech Republic emerged as one of Ukraine's most reliable European supporters after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Prague launched one of the war's most successful ammunition procurement initiatives, coordinating purchases from countries outside the EU and delivering 1.8 million large-caliber artillery shells by the end of 2024 - with 850,000 more in 2025 alone.
Outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in November that supporting Ukraine actually profited Czechia by $607 million, with foreign aid and defense contracts more than covering the country's expenditures.
That trajectory shifted after October 2025 elections brought Andrej Babiš's ANO party to power in coalition with Okamura's far-right SPD.
On his first day as speaker in November, Okamura personally held a ladder while workers removed Ukraine's flag from the parliament building. The coalition later silenced Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna after he publicly expressed support for Ukraine, banning him from speaking on the topic.
President Petr Pavel remains a vocal supporter of Kyiv, but the future of the ammunition initiative now hangs in the balance - a decision is expected at a National Security Council meeting on 7 January.
