Czech president appoints Andrej Babis amid expected policy shift on Ukraine aid

Monday 15 December 2025 - 10:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Czech president appoints Andrej Babis amid expected policy shift on Ukraine aid

President Petr Pavel has officially appointed Andrej Babis as the new Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, marking a significant political shift that could reshape the country's position within the European Union, particularly regarding financial and military support to Ukraine.

Babis, who led the country from 2017 to 2021, returns to office at the head of a new coalition uniting his ANO movement with two right-wing parties: Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and Motorists for Themselves. Together, the three parties command 108 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, giving them the majority needed to form a government. Parliament is expected to hold a confidence vote on January 13 to ratify the coalition.

A shift in foreign policy

The new government's arrival comes just days before a crucial EU summit scheduled for December 18–19, where leaders will discuss long-term financial support for Ukraine. In a recent post on social media platform X, Babis declared that the Czech Republic will not commit to direct or guaranteed funding for Ukraine’s future needs.

“The European Commission must find other ways of financing Ukraine. We don’t have money for other states, and this must be resolved differently. We will not provide guarantees, nor will we put money there,” he stated.

This stance aligns the Czech Republic with several EU members, including Belgium, Italy, Malta, and Bulgaria, all of which have expressed reservations about a proposed €90 billion package aimed at supporting Ukraine in 2026 and 2027. The European Commission hopes to fund two-thirds of Ukraine’s projected €135 billion financing needs through either issuing common debt or leveraging frozen Russian assets.

Domestic reaction and security concerns

Outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala sharply criticized Babis’s decision, describing it as “selfish and irresponsible.” Fiala warned that reducing support for Ukraine could undermine national security and regional stability. Under Fiala's administration, the Czech Republic was among Kyiv’s strongest allies, notably launching an international initiative that supplied 3.7 million artillery shells to Ukraine through donor funding.

With Babis’s return, the future of that ammunition program and other defense commitments remains uncertain. While some political observers believe the new cabinet will prioritize domestic economic issues over foreign policy, others warn that the shift could weaken Prague’s influence within the EU and NATO at a time of growing political divergence over Ukraine.