NATO notes positive signs regarding continuation of Czech aid to Ukraine
A senior NATO official expressed cautious optimism that the Czech Republic may continue its initiative to supply large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine from global manufacturers, despite the recent change of government in Prague.
According to Ukrinform, Reuters reported this in an article.
"A senior NATO military official voiced cautious optimism that the Czech Republic may continue an initiative to source large-calibre ammunition for Kyiv from global suppliers despite a recent change of government in Prague," the report states.
Before taking office, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis promised to reduce military aid to Ukraine from the national budget and suggested that his government might end the ammunition supply scheme led by the Czech Republic.
Babis stated that the program is non-transparent and too costly but did not provide a clear position on the future of the initiative, which enjoys strong support from the Czech president.
"I have no final confirmation (of whether) the initiative continues, but there are some positive signals coming from Prague," Major General Maik Keller, deputy commander of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), told Reuters.
"There might be no more Czech funding for the initiative, which there was to a limited extent in the past. But the vast majority of the funding is coming from other partners," he added.
Keller praised the impact of the Czech initiative, noting that this year it supplied 1.8 million artillery shells – 43% of all ammunition delivered to Ukraine, and approximately 70% of Soviet-era shells.
"So that's quite a significant and important initiative. And that's why we are so keen on continuing it," he said.
As Ukrinform reported, the new Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna considers support for Ukraine and continuation of the ammunition initiative necessary. He plans to visit Ukraine soon.
Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto