His party manifesto pledges to axe the ammunition plan, and in interviews Babiš has called for “compromise” to end the fighting in Ukraine and avoid a larger war with Russia. His party, ANO, has also called to scrap a legal amendment that helps prosecute those who pass on sensitive information to foreign powers, including Russia.
“Babiš is against this ammunition initiative, against spending on defence, he talks about peace without any conditions,” Fiala told the FT. “He helps Vladimir Putin, it’s very clear.”
Babiš, meanwhile, has accused Fiala of trying to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, saying the prime minister “dreams of war with Russia.”
“President Trump rightly warned President Zelenskyy and, by extension, Europe that he is playing with World War III,” Babiš said in March.
Babiš’ line echoes that of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, which has stoked fears of war with Russia to justify a sharp turn away from Europe.
But Tomáš Cirhan, a political analyst at Masaryk University in Brno, said Babiš is trying to win votes by appealing to a part of Czech society that is concerned increased defense spending will come at the expense of local services.