Czech news in brief for December 23: Tuesday's top morning headlines

 The Czech Ministry of Defence will prepare materials to end its role in the Czech Ammunition Initiative, which supplies artillery to Ukraine, SPD leader Tomio Okamura said on Monday. He emphasized the Czech state budget will no longer fund the war effort, noting further support for Ukraine must lead to peace, citing ongoing negotiations with Russia under U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative.

Defence Minister Jaromir Zuna, who said the government will decide on the Czech Ammunition Initiative, was effectively muzzled, limited to discussing army operations, while Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the government handle foreign policy. Zuna also declined an invitation to visit Ukraine, said Okamura. The National Security Council will review the initiative on January 7.

The European Union has paid the Czech Republic EUR 114 million (CZK 2.8 billion) from its Solidarity Fund to help cover costs from last year’s floods, the European Commission said. The money will reimburse expenses for rebuilding transport networks and water and wastewater infrastructure damaged mainly in the Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc regions. Total flood damage was estimated at CZK 70.6 billion, including losses to public and private property.

Slovakia has opened its longest highway tunnel on the D1 motorway near Žilina, cutting travel time for drivers, including those from the Czech Republic heading to the High and Low Tatras. The 13.5-kilometer section includes the 7.5-kilometer Višňové tunnel, easing chronic congestion around Žilina. The project opened years late after political disputes and contractor changes, and will mainly benefit transit traffic. It bypasses city streets and replaces routes along the Váh River. The tunnel finally opened, accompanied by a unique Christmas market.

Last-minute Christmas shopping in the Czech Republic is dominated by gift vouchers, preloaded cards, and themed gift baskets, ČT24 reports. Online orders and deferred payments have surged as shoppers rush to beat delivery deadlines. Retailers saw weekend profits rise by up to 40 percent from the previous week, although some physical stores reported year-on-year declines due to e-commerce competition. Overall, the season is on par with last year.

Rising food prices are keeping Czech households cautious about their finances, even as energy costs ease and the economy grows, a new Ipsos survey shows. About 38 of respondents said they are worse off than a year ago, while 44 percent reported no change. Food costs were cited as the biggest expense increase by 71 percent. Despite concerns, outlooks for the next year are the most optimistic since early 2020.