Czech Security Council to discuss future of ammunition initiative for Ukraine - PM
Photo: Andrej Babiš, Czech Prime Minister (Getty Images)
The future of the ammunition initiative for Ukraine will be discussed at the level of the Czech Security Council, states Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, according to Reuters.
Babiš said that the ammunition initiative was "certainly a good thing." However, he noted that the question is whether the entire process was free of corruption.
"It will be subject to debate at the state security council on January 7," the prime minister clarified.
According to Babiš, he will present the "definitive position" at the Security Council meeting, though he did not specify what that entails.
Ammunition initiative
Czechia launched the ammunition initiative to supply Ukrainian defenders with artillery shells.
Prague coordinated the purchase of shells from third countries and then facilitated their delivery to Ukraine. Funding for the ammunition was provided by Ukraine’s Western partners.
Notably, just last week, Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna said he "does not oppose" continuing the ammunition initiative, but emphasized that effective management is necessary.
Back in July, before becoming prime minister, Babiš had called the initiative "rotten," describing it as "non-transparent." He assured that if he came to power following an election victory, the initiative would no longer operate.
However, after his populist ANO party won the October elections, he has so far not taken a clear stance on the future of the ammunition initiative.
