‘We Won’t Abandon Ukraine,’ Czech Foreign Minister Says in Kyiv

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has arrived in Ukraine for an official visit. It marks his sixth visit since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, underscoring Prague’s consistent support for Kyiv.

On X, Lipavský wrote:

“I arrived on my sixth trip to Ukraine with a clear message – the Czech Republic will not refuse to support Ukrainians in the fight against the Russian aggressor.”

On Nov. 22, 2024, Lipavský arrived in Kyiv by train, noting that he wanted to learn firsthand how Ukrainians were coping with Russian shelling.

In July, Czech President Petr Pavel said the country could not guarantee continued military aid to Ukraine after parliamentary elections in October 2025, according to the BBC.

Pavel did not rule out that the elections could bring a change of government and acknowledged it was difficult to predict the priorities of any new administration.

“At the moment, all my efforts are focused on maintaining a unified approach to security and defense issues, including our policy towards Ukraine. Because I believe that supporting Ukraine is an integral part of our own security,” Pavel said.

Under Pavel’s leadership, the Czech Republic has remained one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies. Prague has raised funds from NATO partners and, using its ties with countries unwilling to support Ukraine openly, has purchased artillery shells from them to supply to Kyiv.

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According to Pavel, in 2024 the Czech Republic delivered about 1.5 million units of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine.

The Czech Republic is committed to continuing its heavy ammunition supply program into 2026, although the outcome of the October 2025 parliamentary elections could influence this policy, Lipavský said earlier.

Czech-arranged shipments of artillery ammunition to Ukraine are increasing, the Defense Ministry said in late July.

The Czech initiative, launched in 2023 to address Ukraine’s ammunition shortages, works with private firms to source stocks and new production worldwide, offering them to donor countries for purchase.

The program leverages Prague’s longstanding arms trade links and has been a centerpiece of the center-right government’s support for Ukraine, alongside donations of heavy equipment worth hundreds of millions of euros.

This year, shipments have reached 850,000 shells, including 320,000 NATO-standard 155 mm rounds, compared with 1.5 million total in 2024.

Opposition leader Andrej Babiš has vowed to end the initiative if elected in October, calling it overpriced and lacking transparency. Program director Aleš Vytečka rejected this, citing necessary security restrictions and audits by donor nations.

Contributions this year are up 29% from 2024, with donors including Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

The Czechs mainly act as intermediaries, with the government allocating about €35 million for purchases from a Czech supplier last year.