The effort has come under fire for a perceived lack of transparency, but in an interview with the BBC, Pavel called such complaints “efforts to undermine the initiative.”
However, ANO’s skepticism about the ammunition effort has struck a chord with Czech voters. A June poll by the Stem organization asked about the level of Czech support for Ukraine: 49 percent said it was too much, 29 percent that it was about right, and 6 percent felt it was not enough.
Vytečka stressed that the government aims to be as transparent as possible, but noted that some information must be kept from the public. “We cannot publicly disclose the type or price of the ammunition, its destination, or the delivery date. However, every single donation is reported on a weekly basis,” he said.
Through the ammunition initiative, he added, the Czech Republic has come to play a significant role in organizing military aid for Ukraine without assuming a greater financial burden.
Prague gains credibility
Martin Vokálek, head of the Brussels office of Czech think tank Europeum, agreed and added that Prague has gained significant political clout by having organized the initiative.
“Across Europe, at least in my circle of colleagues, this is something we are known for,” he said.
