Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic—Ukraine's major ally in the EU—may reduce its military assistance to Kyiv under the new government forming around presumptive Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, according to Politico.

Czechia may shift from arms to aid

In his first international interview, Filip Turek — a former MEP from the far-right Motorists party and likely to become the next foreign minister — said Prague will maintain its NATO commitments and respect for international law. But he emphasized that the government will "prioritize diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine" and "mitigate risks of conflict in Europe, shifting from military aid funded by the national budget to humanitarian support and focusing on Czech security needs."

He presented this as a shift away from direct involvement, stating the goal was to avoid escalation that might threaten Czechia’s energy supply or "economic stability."  

Turek did not announce immediate changes in Czechia’s stance on Russia, but pointed to a broader focus on sovereignty and non-intervention. He said this signaled a so-called “cautious, interest-based approach,” echoing the position of Hungarian authorities, who have expressed hope that Prague will become an ally in resisting EU efforts to maintain strong military backing for Ukraine.

Controversy follows Turek’s appointment

Politico noted that Turek’s expected appointment has already sparked domestic controversy. He has faced criticism for allegedly posting racist, sexist, and homophobic messages on Facebook. Turek denies the accusations and is pursuing legal action. Another figure from the Motorists party, Petr Macinka, tapped for the post of environment minister, has also drawn scrutiny. Macinka previously called human-caused climate change “pure propaganda.”

Prague, which supplied Ukraine with 850,000 large-caliber shells in 2025 under the so-called “Czech Initiative,” has sharply changed its position on aid to Kyiv following the election victory of the right-wing populist ANO movement led by Andrej Babiš, Politico reports.

Throughout his campaign, Babiš criticized Western military assistance to Ukraine and emphasized the need for neutrality, effectively arguing that Kyiv should be left to face Russian aggression on its own.

The end of the pro-Ukraine consensus

Filip Turek, an ultranationalist politician expected to become the next Czech foreign minister, stated that his government will uphold the country’s NATO commitments and international law but will “prioritize diplomatic efforts” to end the war and shift from military to humanitarian aid, focusing instead on “Czech security needs.”

Prague seeks “neutrality” over backing Kyiv

Turek insists that Prague’s official stance on Russia “will not change,” yet the new government plans to emphasize sovereignty and non-interference, aiming to “avoid escalation that could threaten the Czech Republic’s energy security or economic stability.”

This marks a potential pivot from Prague’s active leadership in European support for Ukraine to that of a neutral observer, or even a restraining voice within the EU.

Turek’s rhetoric echoes that of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, whose government systematically blocks EU aid initiatives for Ukraine. Brussels officials are already referring to Prague as a potential new ally for Orbán, one that may advocate for a ceasefire rather than supporting Ukraine's victory.

A Ukrainian defense firm has started producing NATO-standard shells for Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks, using Czech documentation and components. The company, now producing only under 5,000 shells monthly, says it aims to double production capacity and eventually localize up to 80% of manufacturing.

Ukraine begins production of NATO-standard shells for Abrams and Leopard 2

Ukrainian Armor has launched full-scale production of 120 mm ammunition for Western main battle tanks Abrams and Leopard 2, the company told Ukrainian defense news outlet Militarnyi. The company said the production was made possible after receiving technological documentation and a license from the Czech-based Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which also supplies key components such as propellant charges, detonators, and initiators.

According to CSG, they do not own any facilities or production technology in Ukraine, but benefit from the project via licensing fees and by supplying critical elements.

“We are proud to be one of the first Western companies to successfully transfer large-caliber ammunition production to Ukraine,” said David Chour, Deputy Chairman of the Board at CSG.

Ukrainian Armor manufactures the projectile bodies locally, handles the filling and final assembly, and conducts testing. The company confirmed that the plant was completed in early 2025 and production began almost immediately.

CSG has developed its own line of 120 mm tank shells compatible with Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks, which use NATO-standard smoothbore guns such as the Rheinmetall L/44 and L/55. The Ukrainian plant currently has the capacity to produce 4,800 of these 120 mm shells per month.

Artillery shells

In its first year of cooperation with CSG, Ukrainian Armor says it plans to produce up to 100,000 artillery rounds of 155 mm caliber and 50,000 rounds of 105 mm caliber. In the future, it aims to double these figures and ultimately reach 300,000 shells per year, according to Militarnyi.

In addition to NATO-standard shells, the Ukrainian company continues producing Soviet-standard 152 mm and 122 mm rounds in parallel.

The Czech Republic has delivered hundreds of cogeneration units to Ukraine that can power hospitals or entire districts, Ukrinform reports. These high-efficiency systems are already being installed in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and other areas to support critical infrastructure amid ongoing Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid.

Czech tech helps secure Ukraine’s power supply

Czech Government Envoy for Ukraine’s Reconstruction Tomáš Kopečný told Ukrinform that the Czech Republic is supplying Ukraine with cogeneration units that serve as alternative energy sources. He emphasized that these are not backup generators but compact, efficient systems capable of generating both heat and electricity. Each unit produces between 500 kW and 4–5 MW of power.

“Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, when we actually began this work, hundreds of such units have already been delivered,” Kopečný said. He added that the strongest players in the cogeneration sector are the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

According to him, Czech suppliers are not only shipping the units but also establishing branches in Ukraine, training local partners, and contributing to the development of domestic manufacturing.

Czechia strengthens aid through high-tech tools and coordinated support

Alongside cogeneration units, Czechia supplies hundreds — possibly thousands — of 3D printers for use in medicine, industry, and the military.

Czech suppliers are opening branches in Ukraine, training local partners, and helping develop local production. The Czech National Development Bank now implements major Ukraine projects and has received €200 million from the European Commission to support them.

Public fundraising remains active. Campaigns like “Gift for Putin” have funded a tank, helicopter, howitzers, and long-range missiles — often within days.