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Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, support for Kyiv has become polarising issues in Czech politics. As the country heads into parliamentary elections in October 2025, political parties are sharply divided over military aid, refugee policy, and Ukraine’s path to EU membership.

Written by Eliška Daněčková, Aneta Zachová, EURACTIV.cz

In early 2022, Czech politicians responded swiftly and almost unanimously to Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Parliament condemned the invasion, arms were sent, and hundred of thousands of Ukrainian refugees received protection. But the unity of those early days has faded. While the centre-right governing coalition remains firmly committed to Ukraine, parts of the opposition now question further support, call for peace negotiations, and argue that Ukrainian refugees are a growing burden.

Government parties: Support as a long-term investment

The five ruling parties – Civic Democrats (ODS), TOP 09, Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), Mayors and Independents (STAN) – broadly agree on continuing support for Ukraine.

ODS, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, considers support for Ukraine “right and necessary.” The party backs military aid, the training of Ukrainian pilots, and involvement in post-war reconstruction. ODS also views Ukrainian refugees as beneficial to the economy. At the same time, the party recently backed a freeze in welfare support levels for them.

TOP 09 supports Ukraine’s EU accession, while emphasising the need for it to follow standard procedures and fulfil democratic and legal criteria. The party calls for targeted aid to vulnerable refugees and improved integration into schools and the labour market.

KDU-ČSL frames support for Ukraine as a strategic advantage for the Czech Republic. The party highlights the successful integration of Ukrainian refugees and stresses that most of them now work and contribute more to the system than they draw from it. Continued aid – political, economic, and military – is described as a “long-term investment in European security.”

STAN not only supports Ukraine’s membership in the EU, but also in NATO. The party links support for Ukraine directly to Czech national security and calls for faster and more robust military and diplomatic action against Russia. 

Similar position was expressed by the Pirate Party, which left the governing coalition in 2024 and is currently in opposition, sees aid to Ukraine as both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity. It supports EU and future NATO membership for Ukraine, further humanitarian and military support, and possible Czech participation in international peacekeeping, if backed by a European majority. The Pirates also point to economic contributions made by refugees and say most will likely return home after the war.

ANO: From strong support to sharp criticism

The opposition ANO movement, winning in opinion polls and led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, initially backed Ukraine, joining parliamentary declarations of support and allocating funds for refugee assistance. Over time, however, the party’s stance has hardened.

Babiš now regularly links aid to Ukraine with criticism of the government’s domestic policies, accusing it of prioritising foreigners over Czech families. In 2024, he stated that he hoped Ukraine would never join the EU, calling it a potential “catastrophe.” Despite this, other ANO figures, such as MEP Klára Dostálová, say Ukraine should be allowed to join the EU if it meets all conditions.

The far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) opposes arms deliveries, EU or NATO membership for Ukraine, and the continued presence of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. Leader Tomio Okamura accuses the government of dragging the country into a foreign war and demands peace talks instead.

The Stačilo! coalition, centred around the Communist Party, shares a similar stance. It opposes EU enlargement to include Ukraine and warns against accepting Ukrainian war veterans, citing supposed security risks. The group blames the EU for prolonging the war and claims that further arms deliveries only lead to more destruction.

Motoristé sobě, a protest party known for its opposition to EU policies, has taken a more ambiguous approach. While the party does not address Ukraine directly in its programme, its representatives have criticised the government’s “aggressive” foreign policy and called for an immediate ceasefire. They argue that Czechia must avoid being drawn into war and that clear rules should be set for the behaviour of Ukrainian refugees.