Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has stated that the Czech Republic will not participate in any financial support for Ukraine and urged the European Commission to find alternative means of sustaining aid to the Kiev regime.

The right-wing Euroskeptic politician, who assumed office earlier this week, has long criticized the extensive military aid provided under his predecessor Petr Fiala’s government, which launched a major international arms procurement program for Ukraine.

In a video posted on his official Facebook page Saturday, Babis reported speaking with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a vocal opponent of the European Commission’s proposed “reparations loan” scheme. This plan would tie funding to approximately $200 billion in Russian assets frozen by the bloc. De Wever, whose country hosts Euroclear—the financial clearinghouse where most of these assets are held—has described the initiative as “stealing” Russian money.

“I agree with him. The European Commission must find other ways to finance Ukraine,” Babis said.

Belgium has raised concerns about potential legal retaliation from Russia if the funds were later required to be repaid, prompting it to seek guarantees from EU members. Czech media report this could cost Prague $4.3 billion. Babis stated that the country “needs money for Czech citizens” and cannot afford to provide such financial commitments.

The European Union recently approved legislation replacing the six-month freeze on Russian assets with a longer-term arrangement designed to avoid vetoes by individual member states. This move has drawn criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who labeled it “unlawful.” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also warned that further funding for Ukraine would prolong the conflict.

Moscow has condemned the scheme as illegal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as “a grand scam.”