08.07.2026 20:30
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced that they will not contribute to the 70 billion euro military aid pledged to Ukraine in the Ankara NATO Summit Final Declaration. Babis emphasized that they aim for 2% of GDP on defense spending next year and that focus should be on ballistic missile defense.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated that they will not contribute to the 70 billion euro military equipment, aid, and training support pledged to Ukraine in the NATO Summit Final Declaration in Ankara.
CZECH PRIME MINISTER: WE WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE
Babis made statements to the press after the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Ankara. Speaking about the Summit Final Declaration, Babis announced that the Czech Republic will not contribute to the 70 billion euro pledge for military equipment, aid, and training support to Ukraine.
"THIS FIGURE IS NOT REALISTIC"
Noting that Europe should focus especially on defense against ballistic missiles, Babis said these missiles pose the main problem.
Sharing the information that the Czech Republic will allocate 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defense not this year but next year, Babis stated, "We will do our best this year as well, I do not deny that, but I don't think it's realistic."
Babis noted that he was the last person to speak at the meeting because the Czech Republic is the country that allocates the least share of its GDP to defense within NATO.
In the Final Declaration of the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, hosted by Turkey in Ankara on July 7-8, it was stated: "Allies pledge 70 billion euros in military equipment, aid, and training support to Ukraine for 2026, and confirm their sovereign commitments to maintain at least the same level of support in 2027."