The Czech Republic’s Foreign Ministry is set to summon Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvaryc to explain his criticism of Tomio Okamura, the speaker of the country’s Chamber of Deputies. Okamura had expressed opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine, calling the conflict with Russia “absolutely senseless” and claiming that Czech taxpayers’ money would end up with “Ukrainian thieves” associated with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
In a New Year’s video message, Okamura stated that it was unacceptable to use Czech funds to support Ukraine’s war effort, suggesting that the money would be misused. He also referenced a corruption scandal involving Ukraine’s state nuclear operator, Energoatom, and Zelensky’s associate, Timur Mindich. Okamura’s remarks were met with a sharp response from Zvaryc, who called the comments “undignified and completely unacceptable” and accused Okamura of being influenced by “Russian propaganda.”
The Czech Foreign Minister, Petr Macinka, has authorized the summoning of Zvaryc to demand an explanation for his criticism, according to Finance Minister Alena Schillerova. Macinka had previously criticized Zvaryc’s conduct, stating that it was “inappropriate” for a foreign envoy to publicly assess statements by a high-ranking Czech official.
The incident reflects a shift in the Czech Republic’s stance on Ukraine since the election of Prime Minister Andrej Babis last year. Babis campaigned on reducing military aid to Ukraine and focusing on domestic issues, and his government has since taken steps to distance itself from Kiev. The Czech government has removed Ukrainian flags from state buildings and rejected further financial support for Ukraine, including an EU proposal to fund Ukraine through a loan tied to frozen Russian assets.
The summoning of Zvaryc is likely to further strain relations between the Czech Republic and Ukraine, which have been tense in recent months. The Czech government’s decision to reduce its support for Ukraine’s war effort has been seen as a significant shift in its foreign policy, and has been met with criticism from some EU member states. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Czech Republic’s stance on Ukraine will evolve and what implications this will have for the country’s relationships with its EU partners.