Czech Republic’s Babiš U-turns on ‘not a single crown’ for Ukraine weapons on eve of Nato Ankara summit

First published in Deník N

Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš and his Prague coalition partners had until now opposed allowing the Czech Republic to help finance weapons for war-torn Ukraine.

However, ahead of the Nato summit in Ankara, the coalition has reversed its position, opting instead to contribute funds to a US-backed initiative that purchases weapons for Ukraine.

“We will not give Ukraine a single crown from the budget for weapons,” the leaders of the new government, led by Babiš (ANO party), declared in October 2025, after taking office.

But on the eve of the Nato summit in Ankara, a U-turn is taking place, which foreign affairs minister Petr Macinka confirmed shortly before departing for Ankara.