The number of countries financing the Czech initiative for supplying ammunition to Ukraine has halved. Czech Prime Minister: "We have no money"

The initiative led by the Czech Republic to supply ammunition to Ukraine has suffered a significant reduction in the number of participating states, decreasing from 18 to just 9, according to Czech President Petr Pavel.

This initiative, launched in 2024, has been essential for delivering over 4 million artillery shells to Ukraine, representing up to 50% of the large-caliber ammunition used by Ukrainian forces.

The change in position of the new government led by Andrej Babiš, which has promised not to finance weapons for Ukraine anymore, has led to a loss of political support for the initiative. Prime Minister Babiš emphasized prioritizing domestic spending in the face of economic pressures. Additionally, military officials mentioned that some states have withdrawn funding, preferring to purchase ammunition directly from manufacturers.

This situation has also affected European negotiations regarding financial aid for Ukraine, with the Czech Republic and other countries demanding conditions that do not impact their domestic budgets.