Czech diplomats have “found” artillery ammunition for Ukraine from third countries, Czech Republic President Pavel recently announced. Germany also wants to participate. But where does the ammunition come from?
Any possible support for Ukraine – Czech Republic President Petr Pavel has left no doubt about his clear stance since the beginning of his term in office last year. On the second anniversary of the Russian attack, he spoke again to thousands of Czechs in the Old Town Square in the heart of Prague about why a victory for Ukraine was so important for the Czech Republic.
According to the Czech head of state, Russia is not only waging war against Ukraine. Russian aggression is directed against the entire Western world and the European system of values. And the President is following up his clear words with actions. The Czech Republic is currently at the forefront of European procurement of ammunition for Ukraine.
Historically strong Defense industry
The desperate shortage, especially of artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles, is currently the Ukrainian army’s greatest weak point. The EU had originally promised Ukraine one million artillery shells within a year. But due to production difficulties, only just under a third of them were delivered.
This is where the Czech Republic comes into play. The country has historically had a strong arms industry, and private companies trade on a large scale in processed goods from Warsaw Pact stocks. In the past they often played a dubious role – but now their contacts have proven themselves.
Hundreds of thousands Shot of ammunition
While the official global ammunition market has been empty, Czech government officials have been able to conduct discreet negotiations. President Pavel presented the result at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February: around half a million rounds of 155 millimeter caliber and 300,000 rounds of 122 millimeter caliber were “identified”, i.e. found, abroad.
The Czech weekly magazine “Respekt” spoke to the men who research ammunition all over the world on behalf of the president and government. Your activities are subject to confidentiality. Among those responsible is the government’s special representative for Ukraine, Tomáš Kopečný.
He does not reveal which countries the weapons come from. Just this much – these are countries that remained neutral in the war or did not want to openly oppose Russia by supplying ammunition. The weekly magazine quotes him as saying that it is impossible to say more precisely because it would jeopardize the entire process. Especially since the Russians were also looking just as intensively for new sources of supply.
New impetus for Ukraine aid
The Czech Republic would like to act primarily as a mediator in the campaign. Other countries should take over the financing; it amounts to 1.5 billion euros. Actually, as “Respekt” reports, the entire transaction should have taken place behind closed doors.
But when President Pavel sensed at the Munich Security Conference how the less than hopeful situation at the front was also influencing the mood at the political level, he decided to make a public statement – in the hope that this would give Ukraine aid a new impetus and at the same time shorten lengthy bilateral negotiations on the financing of deliveries.
Germany is apparently also taking part
In fact, shortly after Pavel’s appearance, several countries signaled their willingness to provide funds, including Denmark, Canada and the Netherlands. From the Federal Ministry of Defense it says ARD-Inquiry that Germany also wanted to participate in the financing and cover a “significant portion” of the costs. The discussions on this are well advanced.
The Netherlands and Denmark had already had positive experiences with the Czech Republic as a skilled mediator at the beginning of the Russian attack: Prague had organized the handover of 100 old Soviet-design tanks to Kiev; it was one of the first large deliveries of heavy technology.
Pavel’s voice is heard in the West
President Pavel’s personal commitment also plays an important role today. The retired NATO general and former chair of the NATO Defense Committee has a voice that is also heard in the West.
It is now the task of the president and diplomacy to secure financing – a large part of the amount is still outstanding, it is said. If successful, the weapons could be delivered to Ukraine within two months, according to the government. This will not be the last such action for the Czech Republic.
The magazine “Respekt” reported on Thursday, citing President Pavel, that the official ammunition detectors from the Czech Republic had continued to find urgently needed material – this time also with large rockets, especially for anti-aircraft defense, and with threats.