Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced this on March 12, Ceske Noviny reports.
According to Fiala, 18 countries have joined the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition from third countries, including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. They can purchase an additional 200 thousand rounds of ammunition from third countries.
"I consider this a great success. This is another proof that the Czech Republic is a full-fledged active player in European security policy, that it can use its advantages," the Czech prime minister said.
According to Fiala, the initiative to obtain additional shells from third countries is a relatively simple mechanism, but it requires know-how.
"This will bring real results for Ukrainian defense and will provide additional support to it when European countries do not yet have sufficient capacity for their own production," the Czech Prime Minister said.
Thus, out of the 800,000 shells that the Czech Republic has found for Ukraine, there is already an opportunity to purchase 500,000.
Fiala also announced that over the past two years, the Czech Republic has delivered more than a million pieces of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine.
On February 17, it was reported that the Czech Republic had found sources of 800,000 artillery rounds abroad. This includes 500,000 units of 155 mm and 300,000 units of 122 mm ammunition.
The Netherlands has publicly announced its participation, donating EUR 100 million for the purchase of ammunition. France will also join the initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine outside the EU. Germany and Norway also supported the initiative.
On February 22, it was reported that Canada was ready to allocate up to $22 million for shells for Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also announced that the country would finance the Czech initiative with €200 million. Subsequently, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said that her country would support the Czech Republic's multilateral initiative to purchase and transfer artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
On March 2, the Czech Republic announced that it would be able to make the first deliveries of ammunition to Kyiv in a few weeks.
On March 8, Czech President Petr Pavel announced the completion of fundraising for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine. The government clarified that it meant only the first batch of 300,000 shells.