Czech ammunition initiative to go on: government shifts stance after taking office

A rapid response to a wartime shortage

The Czech ammunition initiative was announced by President Petr Pavel at the Munich Security Conference in February 2024, at a moment when Ukraine was facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition.

European production capacities were insufficient and too slow to respond. Instead of waiting, Czechia offered a pragmatic solution: using its defence-industry know-how and long-established international contacts to source ammunition worldwide and deliver it quickly to Ukraine.

One of the key proponents of the initiative was former foreign minister Jan Lipavský, now an independent MP elected on the Civic Democratic Party ticket.

“There was a real crisis in Ukraine, and European production capacities were low,” Lipavský says. “But there was ammunition available worldwide, and Czechia had the know-how to secure it.”

Funded by donors, coordinated from Prague

Under the scheme, partner countries provide the funding, while Czech state institutions and defence companies coordinate procurement, refurbishment and delivery.

According to the Ministry of Defence, around four million rounds of large-calibre ammunition worth roughly 90 billion Czech crowns have been delivered to Ukraine so far. Czechia contributed about 1.8 billion crowns — roughly two percent of the total cost — with the vast majority of funding coming from donors such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Speaking after a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who is also the leader of the ANO movement, confirmed that the initiative will continue.

“We can continue with the ammunition initiative on the condition that it is financed by other countries,” Babiš said. “Our role is coordination and know-how. It must be transparent and free of corruption.”

From campaign criticism to continuity

The decision marks a shift from the rhetoric used by ANO and parts of the governing coalition during last year’s election campaign, when the ammunition initiative was criticised and, in some cases, promised to be halted.

Since taking office, however, the government has reassessed the project. Babiš now says Czechia will remain involved as a coordinator, while ensuring that no additional costs fall on Czech taxpayers.

Scepticism has not disappeared entirely. MP Tomáš Doležal from the junior coalition SPD party says the government must still clarify staffing demands, administrative capacity at the Ministry of Defence and long-term oversight.

At the same time, Doležal denies that the issue is causing serious rifts inside the coalition, insisting that debate is normal and that the government’s overall direction remains clear.