Czech Defense Minister Silenced on Ukraine by Own Party

New Czech Defense Minister Gagged on Ukraine Policy

In a dramatic first crisis for the new Czech coalition government, Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna has been barred from speaking about Ukraine by his own far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. The move comes just days after Zuna took office and publicly affirmed continued support for Kyiv, exposing deep divisions within the ruling alliance.

A Controversial First Statement

The controversy erupted on December 19, 2025, when Zuna held his first press conference as defense minister. The lieutenant-general, appointed as an 'independent expert' by the SPD, surprised many by stating clearly: 'Our support for Ukraine will continue' and 'Ukraine is defending itself, Russia is the aggressor.' These statements, while reflecting mainstream Czech and European positions, directly contradicted the SPD's pro-Russian platform.

SPD leader Tomio Okamura, known for his pro-Russian stance despite previous anti-Russian rhetoric, quickly moved to contain the damage. After emergency consultations with coalition partners ANO and the Motorists party, it was decided that Zuna would be allowed to remain in his position but could only comment on domestic military matters. Foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine, would be handled exclusively by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

The Ammunition Initiative at Stake

At the heart of the conflict is the Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine, which has become a critical lifeline for Kyiv's forces. According to reports, the program has raised approximately CZK 100 billion (€4 billion) and delivered over 4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, including 1.8 million shells in 2025 alone. The initiative, coordinated with the Netherlands and Denmark, has significantly improved Ukraine's artillery situation.

Zuna had expressed support for continuing this program, but his party vehemently opposes it. Okamura has stated that 'no single cent of Czech citizens' money' should go toward weapons for Ukraine. The compromise reportedly involves moving the initiative out from under the defense ministry's purview to avoid the SPD's 'fingerprint' on the project.

A Minister Silenced

The silencing of Zuna has been remarkably complete. Czech journalists report being unable to contact him, his X (formerly Twitter) account has been deleted, and he appeared in a video promising not to travel to Ukraine. The newspaper Denik N described him as having 'the look of a prisoner of war' in the footage.

Opposition politician Martin Kupka criticized the move sharply, saying 'The SPD is gagging its own defense minister to prevent him from saying that Russia is an aggressor.' The situation highlights the tensions within the new coalition, which brings together Babiš's populist ANO party with the far-right SPD and Motorists.

Broader Coalition Troubles

This is not the only problem facing the new government. President Petr Pavel, who belongs to the opposition, has refused to appoint Motorists leader Filip Turek as environment minister due to racist, antisemitic, and homophobic Facebook posts. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka is temporarily handling the environment portfolio.

Additionally, Babiš faced delays in his appointment as prime minister because President Pavel demanded he distance himself from his more than 200 businesses to prevent conflicts of interest. Babiš has since placed his companies in a trust fund.

The coalition, which holds 108 of 200 parliamentary seats, hopes to present its final governing agreement after the holidays. However, the Zuna incident raises serious questions about how the government will function and what level of support the Czech Republic will continue to provide Ukraine.

European Implications

The situation has broader implications for European security. The Czech Republic has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters within the EU, and the ammunition initiative has been particularly successful. According to Kyiv Independent, the program changed the artillery shell ratio from 1-to-10 in Russia's favor to 1-to-2.

Prime Minister Babiš has said any decision on the future of the ammunition initiative will be postponed until early 2026. For now, Defense Minister Zuna will focus on military procurement and personnel matters while remaining silent on the issue that has defined his first week in office.