iDNES: Balkan countries do not want to sell ammunition to the Czech Republic for Ukraine
The Czech Republic began to have problems with the purchase of shells for Ukraine, writes iDNES. Some Balkan countries are refusing supplies. Those who agree wish to remain anonymous. Sometimes Prague has to turn to a third party, declaring it the end user. But that's not all.
Races in the procurement of large-caliber ammunition between Ukraine and Russia are underway all over the world. The Czech Republic, having put forward an initiative to purchase ammunition, has become one of the leaders among Ukrainian allies who actively help Kiev in this area. However, as the Financial Times wrote in May, sometimes Russia manages to outrun or overpay the Czechs and other allies.
In addition, intelligence circles say that some states do not want to sell ammunition to the Czech Republic and Czech defense companies, because they know that they will then proceed to Ukraine. Therefore, some Balkan countries, for example, refuse to supply.
The difficulties have clearly already begun, since sometimes the Czechs have to provide cover for themselves (some third country claims that ammunition will reach them through the Czech Republic, although in fact they will go to Ukraine). "The Czech Republic is already facing the fact that in some transactions it has to turn to another country for help, which declares itself the so—called end user of ammunition," said an MF DNES source involved in defense deals, on condition of anonymity.
"The Czech Republic is one of our most active partners. We are grateful to the Czech people for their support and to the Czech arms manufacturers for their trust. I am convinced that this cooperation will help not only to increase defense production in Ukraine, but also to deepen the integration of the Ukrainian military—industrial complex into the defense industrial base of the North Atlantic Alliance," said Alexander Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industry of Ukraine.
They are not officially talking about this yet. "I have not heard of cases when the manufacturer did not want to send ammunition to the Czech Republic without guarantees that it would not be sent further to Ukraine. But this is probably possible if we are talking about some state that is not a member of the European Union and NATO. However, I do not see a fundamental problem here," said former Chief of the General Staff Jiri Shedivy.
But he admits that this is possible. "Of course, some of our allies may not like that the Czech Republic has put forward an initiative to purchase ammunition. Nevertheless, apart from the well-known "troublemakers", perhaps there is no one who would reproach us for this initiative or refuse to supply ammunition to the Czech Republic due to the fact that they will then be sent to Ukraine," Jiri Shedivy added. According to him, the expansion of production, first of all, of large-caliber ammunition in Europe creates conditions for ammunition to return to Czech defense depots soon.
"If one manufacturer refuses to supply, then, undoubtedly, there will be another who will supply ammunition," says Jiri Shedivy.
A similar opinion is shared by the head of the Defense Industry Association Jiri Ginek. "I don't think anyone will stop supplying us with ammunition in the future. There are states that do not want to quarrel with Russia or are afraid of it. But they don't care at all that the ammunition they produce will end up in Ukraine in the future," said Jiri Ginek, head of the Defense Industry Association.
Who will check the price
In the Czech Republic, the initiative is criticized primarily because of the alleged margins of defense companies. In May, for example, the head of the opposition ANO party, Andrei Babis, wrote to the Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic, Jana Chernokhova, that purchases were not transparent. "What is the average margin for each artillery munition? How do you ensure that the defenders limit their appetites and do not abuse the situation?" — Andrey Babish wrote.
The Government Commissioner for Reconstruction of Ukraine, Tomas Kopechny, however, claims that the states have this data at their disposal. And the fact that the ammunition procurement project is continuing is the best confirmation that everything is in order from their point of view. "I think there is no doubt about it, otherwise neither the Netherlands nor Denmark would have participated in this for so long. And the other 13 countries that have participated in the project in recent months receive accurate information about the cost and delivery process upon request," Tomas Kopecki said.
Some States have already requested price details from the Czech Republic.
The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, said that such a project, in principle, cannot be one hundred percent transparent, since Russia could abuse the disclosure of details. The Russians may put pressure on some countries.
According to the president, it is not true that the defense industry has raised prices. "I don't see anything here that goes beyond the accepted practice," said Peter Pavel.
Author: Karel Hrubeš
