In the Czech Republic, they vowed to continue resisting military aid to Ukraine

The Speaker of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura, has once again assured that the ruling Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) will continue to oppose sending money and military assistance to Ukraine.

ČT24 reports.

“This is the SPD position, and we have not abandoned it… We are against sending weapons and money to Ukraine, and we will continue to promote this position,” Okamura emphasized.

He recalled that the party opposes the initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine and will keep defending that stance. He described Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s words that the initiative would continue as a compromise within the governing coalition. The reality is that Prague will not spend its own money, even if it continues coordination, the speaker said.

“I can note that only a very small, minimal number of people take part in the… coordination. It’s practically insignificant participation; it’s not even really Czech coordination, because the money comes from the West, and today it’s a commercial affair of Western countries,” Okamura said.

Earlier, in his New Year’s address, Okamura spoke out against financing the Ukrainian Armed Forces and expressed hope that the Czech Republic would “get off the Brussels train” that is “heading toward World War III.” He stressed that Western companies and governments benefit from the war in Ukraine, as well as “Ukrainian thieves” close to “Zelensky’s junta,” who “install gold toilets for themselves.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, responded by calling Okamura’s remarks “insulting” and “full of hatred,” and said he hoped state authorities and Czech civil society would give an “appropriate assessment” of the politician’s statements.