Czech Republic launches second project to purchase ammunition for Ukraine

This was announced by the country's Defense Minister Jana Černochová, Radio Prague International reports.

According to her, 5 arms companies will join this project. Currently, the Agency for Intergovernmental Cooperation under the Czech Ministry of Defense is collecting information on what they will be able to supply to Ukraine next year.

"This is a natural extension of the existing mechanism. In addition, the sooner donors allocate funds, the sooner our companies will sign long-term contracts," Chernokhova said.

The Czech Republic will again act as an intermediary between donors - EU states and five arms companies that joined the first initiative to purchase shells.

The article noted that in 2025, the companies will continue to supply Ukraine.

Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine: what is known

On February 17, it became known that the Czech Republic had found sources abroad for hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds that it could deliver to Ukraine in a matter of weeks.

The Netherlands publicly announced their participation by allocating 100 million euros for the purchase of ammunition. France will also join the initiative to procure ammunition for Ukraine outside the EU. Additionally, Germany and Norway have expressed support for the initiative.

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

On March 2, the Czech Republic announced that they would be able to make the first deliveries of ammunition to Kyiv within a few weeks.

Later, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė stated that her country would support the Czech Republic's multilateral initiative to purchase and transfer artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

On March 8, Czech President Petr Pavel announced the completion of fundraising for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine. The government clarified that it was only the first batch of 300,000 shells.

On March 12, the Czech Republic announced the possibility of purchasing another 200,000 artillery shells for Ukraine in addition to the 300,000 already financed.

The Czech government said that artillery shells, which will be purchased at the initiative of Prague, are likely to start arriving in Ukraine in June.

Germany will provide Ukraine with 180,000 artillery rounds as part of the Czech-led ammunition purchase plan.

On July 22, media reported that Ukraine would receive 100,000 pieces of ammunition purchased under the Czech initiative in July and August.