Czech weapons can go to Ukraine, but not from state budget – Czech opposition leader

Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš has said his party will not fund weapons for Ukraine from the state budget should it form the next government.

Source: European Pravda, citing Czech news agency ČTK

Details: Speaking at a press conference on 8 October, Babiš reiterated his position on the ammunition initiative launched by the current Czech government.

Quote: "If we are in the government, we will ask Czech arms manufacturers: do you want to export weapons to Ukraine? We don't have a problem with that."

More details: The ANO leader argued that Czechia already contributes "60 billion [in unspecified currency] to the European Union budget", which supports Ukraine.

Quote: "We will not give a single koruna [from the state budget – ed.] to Ukraine for weapons. We have no money for the Czech Republic. I think we have helped Ukraine directly, and now assistance will be provided through the EU."

Background:

• Babiš, the leader of the populist ANO party in Czechia, has previously promised to cancel the ammunition initiative, which helps supply artillery shells to Ukraine.
• He, however, has eased his rhetoric in recent statements, suggesting that the initiative should be handled by NATO rather than Prague.
• Czech President Petr Pavel said earlier that cutting or ending support for Ukraine through Prague's ammunition supply initiative would ultimately harm Czechia itself.

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