Against the background of the continuation of the war in Ukraine, international support remains one of the key factors in providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with the necessary weapons and ammunition. However, not all the promised funds arrive on time, and this causes certain problems in the implementation of the plans.
Recently, Poland admitted that it still has not transferred the money to the Czech Republic for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine, which is part of the Czech initiative. This initiative provides for the supply of ammunition to the Ukrainian military in order to support the fight against Russian aggression.
At a press conference in Kyiv with his Ukrainian colleague Andrii Sybiga, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslav Sikorskyi explained the delay in the transfer of funds. According to him, the reason is the arrest of the Polish official responsible for this process.
We are talking about Michal Kuchmerowski, the former head of the Government Agency of Strategic Reserves of Poland. He was detained in London on a Polish arrest warrant on charges of corruption. This created a delay in the transfer of funds, but the Polish government promises to rectify the situation in the near future.
Radoslav Sikorsky said that Poland will allocate 100 million euros for the purchase of shells for Ukraine, the first half of which will be sent already this year, and the rest next year.
The Czech initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine, which was joined by several European countries, aimed to provide a significant part of the ammunition needs of the Armed Forces. The purchasing company Czechoslovak Group recently announced that Turkey has become the main supplier of ammunition.
However, the situation became complicated when not all partner countries fulfilled their financial obligations. In particular, the Czech Republic was unable to achieve its initial goals due to insufficient funding from other countries, including Poland. Prague said that their plans will be cut by a third if the partners do not provide the necessary funds.
Despite problems with funding, the initiative continues to operate. According to the latest data, 18 countries outside the European Union joined the procurement of ammunition for Ukraine. Germany became the largest and fastest donor among the partners of the initiative.
Meanwhile, Poland has publicly supported the initiative, but has not yet sent any funds. At the same time, Radoslav Sikorsky confirmed that his country will fulfill its obligations and in the near future the first half of the promised 100 million euros will be used for the purchase of shells.
Corruption scandals, such as the one involving Michal Kuchmerovsky, can significantly affect the speed and effectiveness of providing aid to Ukraine. This situation highlights the importance of transparency and reliability in the processes involved in the financing of military procurement, especially in times of war.
