Czech Senate Reflects on Threats from Reduced Support for Ukraine

February 24, 2026 — The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic held a public hearing on the security of Ukraine, Europe and the Czech Republic itself. The event took place with the participation of Czech President Petr Pavel and was organised on the basis of a decision of the Senate plenary adopted a month earlier. The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation was informed of this by its partners — the Ukrainian Institute in Prague.

The hearing aimed to provide the public with comprehensive information on how the Czech Republic is responding to Russia’s war against Ukraine, how it is strengthening its own defence capability, and how it is contributing to ensuring the security of all of Europe.

Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil opened the hearing: “Today’s public hearing is devoted to how important it is for us to support Ukraine, how important it is for Europe to cooperate in increasing its defence capability and security, and what we must do in the Czech Republic to strengthen our own defence and thereby contribute not only to European security but also to the support of Ukraine.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pavel Fischer, emphasised that this is a historically significant conflict: “The front line is 1,300 km long, which in scale takes us back to the Second World War. But the methods of combat and the general appearance of the battlefield have changed so much that we must not look away. On the contrary. It is our duty to assist a state that has been attacked. And our duty to learn from Ukraine, which is fighting.”

President Petr Pavel emphasised the direct link between Russia’s war against Ukraine and European security: “Today we mark four years since Russia, following the annexation of Crimea, again attacked Ukraine and decided to completely destroy it, despite all international agreements. The fact that Ukraine did not fall in three days but has been bravely withstanding daily attacks for four years is a testament to the determination of its citizens to defend their state, families and homes.”

“If we do not want to find ourselves again in Russia’s sphere of influence, we must act together. Our future is alongside our allies in NATO and the EU,” the President emphasised.

Security expert Vlastislav Bříza stated frankly: “If we betray Ukraine, abandon it, and after four years of resistance it falls — what then? It may lose. And that state will remember who helped it and who did not. And hypothetically, one day we could face not a million-strong Russian army but a two-million-strong Russian-Ukrainian army. I ask you to take this into account in your decisions and appeals to society.”

The hearing was attended by senators, the Chief of the General Staff, the Deputy Minister of Defence and other national security specialists. The hearing was chaired by Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, Pavel Fischer.

The Director of the Ukrainian Institute in Prague, Rostyslav Prokopіuk, also took part in the public hearing. He commented afterwards: “Strong support for Ukraine today in the Senate. All the statements by senators, guests of the hearing and even the president’s address were in the spirit of supporting Ukraine and understanding that Russia’s war against Ukraine must be the impetus for accelerated strengthening of Europe’s defence capability.”