Czech initiative has already provided over one-third of ammunition to Ukraine – Ambassador Zvarych

Over a third of the 500,000 weapons that are supposed to be sent to Ukraine as part of the Czech initiative by the end of the year have already been delivered.

The Ambassador of Ukraine in Prague, Vasyl Zvarych, said this in an interview with the Czech news agency ČTK.

Zvarych noted that the Ukrainian military primarily needs 155-millimeter ammunition.

"This has a positive effect on strengthening our defense capabilities," he emphasized.

The ambassador mentioned that Ukraine is in talks with the Czech Republic's Ministry of Defense to expand the initiative. He also confirmed that, as the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported, he was unaware of any issues with the transfer of ammunition.

The diplomat suggested that the publication was an attempt to discredit the initiative, emphasized that it is effective and has room for development, and expressed hope that the supply will continue next year.

In addition, the initiative is designed to become a tool for investing in Ukrainian domestic ammunition production.

"Ukraine has increased its capabilities, but we need certain financial resources to develop them further and to be able to produce ammunition of a smaller caliber," the ambassador said, adding that Ukraine is also discussing this issue with the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic.

Zvarych also emphasized that Ukraine should not be limited in using the delivered weapons to attack military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation. This, he emphasized, is in the interests of all free countries, including the United States.

He is convinced that lifting these restrictions is a matter of time because everyone understands that the war will continue without it. Putin will have the opportunity to escalate.

"We must do everything to limit Russia's military potential… We are subjected to missile and drone attacks every day. We know which parts of Russia they come from. We know the specific locations of air bases, warehouses, logistics centers," the head of the embassy said, ​​adding that, unlike Russia, Ukraine will thus avoid casualties among the civilian population.

Zvarych emphasized:

"I am sure that it is in the interests of the USA to end the war as soon as possible. But to end it based on the UN Charter and international law, which means that Russia should be pushed to a just and sustainable peace, not on Putin's terms, but on the terms of the free world and democratic countries … I want to emphasize that the only thing that can stop Putin is our unity, strength, and determination."

For reference:

During the Munich Security Conference on February 17, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that his country could procure 500,000 155 mm and 300,000 122 mm rounds in a matter of weeks, provided it had the necessary funds.

In total, 15 countries supported the procurement of ammunition for Ukraine outside of Europe.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský, stated that 1.5 million shells could be supplied within the initiative's framework for procuring artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

It is worth adding that the Czech Republic has already identified more than a million units of artillery ammunition in countries outside the European Union, which can be purchased for transfer to Ukraine.

In turn, the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, said that the Czech initiative had gained momentum.