Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš declared on 8 July 2026 that his country will not contribute to the €70 billion military aid package for Ukraine confirmed by NATO allies at the Ankara summit, opting instead for a smaller, one-time payment into the PURL munitions programme. Babiš said Foreign Minister Petr Macinka located the funds within the foreign ministry's existing budget rather than committing to the broader German-proposed assistance figure.
The PURL initiative allows European allies and Canada to voluntarily purchase US-made weapons and ammunition for Ukraine. Opposition ODS leader Martin Kupka argued the government should prioritise the separate Czech-backed ammunition initiative, which offers opportunities for domestic arms manufacturers.
Babiš urged Europe to focus on developing a European Patriot system for ballistic missile defence. The Czech Republic also declined to join Denmark, the Netherlands, and Estonia in signing a drone technology cooperation agreement with Ukraine.