The Czech ammunition initiative focuses on the supply of artillery shells to Ukraine, which at the beginning of the war in February 2022 was significantly behind Russia in terms of supplies. The Czech Republic cooperates with the Netherlands and Denmark on the initiative. In the end, the current government of ANO, SPD and Motorists also took over the initiative, but it remained only in a coordinating role, it does not put money into it. According to Kmoníček, Czech contributions to the initiative made up about two to three percent of the total amount, and according to him, the end of Czech funding will not threaten it. “The most important thing was our know-how, without it the initiative would have disappeared,” he stated.
Last year, according to Kmoníček, the initiative secured 1.96 million pieces of ammunition. “It is almost half of the total deliveries of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine. That is, about 48 percent of all ammunition supplied to Ukraine is the Czech ammunition initiative, in the case of the main and most requested caliber of 155 mm by the Ukrainian side, it is a full 52 percent,” he said.
Ukraine is now mainly asking for large-caliber ammunition with an extended range of over 30 kilometers, Kmoníček added. The Ukrainian side consumes three thousand to eight thousand of these cartridges in one day. So far, the Czech Republic has secured funding from partners for 880,000 pieces of ammunition for this year. “We are actively looking for additional sponsors and donors in order to reach a total amount between 2.5 billion and five billion crowns,” said Kmoníček.
Brodský said that the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine is the biggest immediate security threat to the Czech Republic, while the preservation of the independent Ukrainian state is in the Czech Republic’s interest. The deputy also praised the role of the US administration and President Donald Trump in the peace negotiations. “We are aware that a peaceful solution to the conflict cannot be negotiated without the active participation of the US. We welcome Ukraine’s openness and willingness to make painful concessions. Now it is Russia’s turn,” said Brodský, according to whom Russia persists in its maximalist demands.
Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) commented on the fact that, unlike President Petr Pavl, all invited members of the government apologized for the hearing. It seems to him that they do not see the security and defense of the Czech Republic as their priority. According to Vystrčil, this is an unused opportunity to discuss their intentions with the public and thus contribute to trust.
People’s Senator David Šimek called it a sign of arrogance that none of the members of the government came to the hearing. He paused over the fact that the cabinet wants to reduce the increase in defense spending. Kmoníček objected that 400 million crowns more should be spent on defense this year compared to last year’s budget. According to Kmoníček, the reduction of the defense budget by 21 billion crowns against the proposal of the former government to 154.79 billion crowns will not affect the key components of the Ministry of Defense this year. “The current adjustment of the budget is only a temporary and stabilization phase, not a change of strategic course,” he said.
“The government is aware of the growing demands for defense and expects an increase in defense spending after the consolidation of state finances,” said Brodský with regard to the commitment of NATO member states to achieve defense spending of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product and another 1.5 percent for related non-military investments by 2035.
At the end of the hearing, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security Pavel Fischer (for TOP 09) appreciated that the Czech Republic wants to continue supporting EU sanctions against Russia even under the government of Andrej Babiš (ANO). On the contrary, he paused over the cabinet’s plan to first consolidate public finances and only then increase defense spending.
