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Prague – President Petr Pavel considers it extremely important that the European Council has reached agreement on financial aid for Ukraine. However, he would consider it right to take on his share of responsibility together with other Europeans and to guarantee the fate of the continent. The president stated this today on the X network.
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia will not join the guarantees associated with the EU loan of 90 billion euros (roughly 2.2 trillion CZK) in favor of Ukraine. Thus, 24 EU states will guarantee the loan. Work will also continue on using the so-called reparations loan for Ukraine secured by frozen Russian assets, according to the conclusions from the meeting in Brussels, which was supported by 25 countries, that is, the twenty-seven minus Hungary and Slovakia.
Pavel considers reaching agreement on financial aid important because Russia’s aggressive war is greatly exhausting Ukraine. The aid is crucial for the survival of the attacked country and is at the same time a prudent investment in the security of Europe and the Czech Republic. “I would therefore consider it right for us, together with other Europeans, to show that we are able to take on our share of responsibility and guarantee the fate of our continent,” the president added.
The position of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) on the guarantees was criticized today by his predecessor Petr Fiala (ODS); according to him, Babiš is aligning himself at the EU level with Slovakia and Hungary. In this new course of foreign policy, Czechia will lose dignity, respect and eventually also money, he stated on X. Outgoing ODS leader Fiala said that last week Babiš promised not to make policy according to Hungarian and Slovak prime ministers Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico. “It lasted exactly a week and at the very first European Council he was in full agreement with them – as the results of the negotiations show. Czechia has aligned itself with Slovakia and Hungary and refused to support guarantees for funds for Ukraine, which is still facing Russian aggression,” he said. This new course of foreign policy means that the Czech Republic will lose dignity, respect and eventually also money, he believes. “And unfortunately it is heading eastward,” he added.
According to analysts contacted by ČTK, Babiš’s stance indicates that Czech foreign policy will be different from that of the previous government. (19 December)