Czech Republic finds ammo to buy for Ukraine in 2025

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky announced this in an interview with European Pravda.

‘Given that the EU's defense production has not yet accelerated, we have found stocks of shells around the world and are buying them. We restore some of the shells to make sure they are in good working order. And then we send them to Ukraine,’ the minister said.

At the same time, he noted that to ensure long-term supplies, it is necessary to increase ammunition production.

‘Ukraine is doing it now, but many other countries need to do it as well. But for 2025, we have already found many already manufactured ammunition around the world that can be purchased for the Armed Forces,’ the minister added.

Jan Lipavsky also said that the Czech Republic will fulfil its promise to transfer 500,000 large-caliber ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the end of 2024.

The minister added that Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, together with the prime ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands, have already agreed to continue the Czech initiative in 2025.

‘It is obvious that Ukraine will need ammunition next year as well. That is why we must continue,’ Lipavsky said.

About the Czech-led initiative to arm Ukraine

On February 17, media reported that the Czech Republic had found sources of supply for hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds abroad, which it could deliver to Ukraine within weeks.

The Netherlands publicly announced its participation, donating €100 million for the purchase of ammunition. France also joined the initiative to purchase shells for Ukraine outside the EU. The initiative was also supported by Germany and Norway.

On February 22, Canada said it was ready to allocate up to $22 million for shells for Ukraine. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also said that the country would finance the Czech initiative with €200 million.

Subsequently, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonite said that her country would facilitate the Czech Republic's multilateral initiative to purchase and transfer artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

In June, the Czech Ministry of Defence announced that by the end of 2024, Ukraine would receive about half a million pieces of artillery ammunition under the Czech-led initiative.