The speaker of the Czech parliament’s lower house, Tomio Okamura, used a New Year address on 1 January to reiterate his opposition to further arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that Prague should not send weapons to support what he described as a “senseless war”. In a message published on social media, Okamura said public funds should instead be directed towards Czech pensioners, people with disabilities and families with children, rather than military assistance abroad, as reported by Radio Prague International.
Okamura criticised the use of taxpayers’ money for military aid to Kyiv, stating that Czech finances should not be used to purchase weapons for another country. He framed his position as a pragmatic policy choice, claiming that the governing coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists party aimed to prioritise domestic citizens and businesses. He also expressed hope for peace and said the Czech Republic should distance itself from Western European policies focused on rising defence spending and support for Ukraine.
Domestic politics and a consistent political line
The remarks were consistent with Okamura’s long-standing stance as leader of the right-wing populist Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. He has repeatedly criticised the European Union, NATO, sanctions against Russia and military assistance to Ukraine. One of his first symbolic acts as lower house speaker was the removal of a Ukrainian flag from the parliament building, underlining his scepticism towards Prague’s current foreign policy course.
Within the governing coalition, Okamura’s statements have previously fuelled tensions. In December 2025, disagreements emerged after SPD defence minister Jaromír Zuna spoke in support of Ukraine and the continuation of the Czech ammunition supply initiative. Following the dispute, coalition partners agreed that foreign policy positions would be communicated primarily by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, in an effort to contain internal divisions.
Ammunition initiative under review
Babiš, whose populist ANO party won parliamentary elections in October, has so far avoided a clear public commitment on the future of the Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine, previously criticising the programme over transparency concerns. At the end of 2025, he announced that the national security council would review the initiative on 7 January 2026, formally to assess its effectiveness and oversight.
The ammunition programme has become one of Europe’s most significant mechanisms for supporting Ukraine amid global shortages of artillery shells, bringing together foreign donors such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands with Czech state institutions and private suppliers. It has attracted more than €4bn in Western funding, elevating its strategic importance while also making it a focal point for domestic political debate. The outcome of the security council review is expected to carry implications not only for Kyiv, but also for the Czech Republic’s standing among its European and transatlantic partners.
