Sweden to allocate €30 million to Czech initiative for procuring shells for Ukraine

The government has decided that the Defense Materiel Administration may negotiate and conclude an agreement with the responsible authority of Czechia.

It is noted that Ukraine's need for ammunition is significant, especially in terms of artillery. Czechia has identified opportunities to purchase large quantities of ammunition on the global market for transfer to Ukraine. Therefore, the Swedish government has decided to support Czechia in this initiative.

New assistance needs to be approved

Funding for the contribution is provided within the framework of the 15th aid package to Ukraine.

This package is currently under consideration in the Riksdag (parliament), and Sweden's contribution to the Czech initiative requires the Riksdag to vote on the government's proposal to make additional amendments to the budget.

Czechia has found ammunition for Ukraine

In recent months, there has been a severe shortage of artillery ammunition on the front lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Recently, due to this reason, Ukrainian soldiers had to withdraw from the city of Avdiivka and also lost several other settlements in the Donetsk region.

In February, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that Prague had found 800,000 artillery rounds for Ukraine's military needs: half a million of caliber 155 mm and 300,000 of caliber 122 mm. However, funds were needed to purchase them.

The initiative was supported by Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, and France. In particular, on March 6, Germany provided a three-digit million sum for the purchase of ammunition. And Norway has transferred over $150 million for ammunition.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated that the Czech initiative promised an additional 200,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine on an optional basis.