Czech Republic asks other countries to allocate more money to buy shells for Ukraine

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has said that the Czech initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine from third countries still needs funding.

"We need more money for these shells. We need more shells for Ukraine, because Russia is still capable of producing many, many more than Ukraine has on the front line. Unfortunately, this maths matters in war. That is why we want Ukraine to be able to defend itself against Russian aggression," he said before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

Thus, the minister called on countries to join the Czech initiative and allocate money for the shells.

When asked how much ammunition has already been financed, Lipavsky said that "we are not disclosing this number at this time."

At the same time, he confirmed that 300,000 of them have already been financed, but this is only a part of them.

"This is true. But this is only a part. Much more can be done," the Foreign Minister continued.

Regarding the readiness to support NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's proposal to allocate €100 billion over five years to help Ukraine, Lipavsky said that "we have to consider this issue and study it in detail."

"So we need to see this plan and discuss it within the country as well. But in general, yes, we should support Ukraine," the minister said.

Background. As it became known today, Germany will allocate 576 million euros for the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine – the country will cover the cost of 180,000 artillery shells.