Czech and Finnish presidents meet in Prague to discuss NATO and Ukraine
リアクション
2026年05月09日
(4 May 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague, Czech Republic - 4 May 2026
1. Various of Finnish President Alexander Stubb arriving, greeting Czech President Petr Pavel
2. Various of Stubb and Pavel during welcome ceremony
3. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Pavel, Czech President:
"And if the strongest member of the Alliance, or a representative of the strongest member of the Alliance, describes the Alliance as a paper tiger, then that certainly does nothing to boost its credibility. Especially since it isn't quite true. And from this perspective, if we look at it from the other side, President Putin can, of course, only be pleased by such a statement."
4. Stubb and Pavel inspecting honor guards of Prague Castle
5. Various of Stubb and Pavel seated for talks
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Stubb, Finnish President:
"But if I were to have only one message here today, it is to say that instead of us talking about what Ukraine needs from Europe, perhaps we should start thinking what we in Europe need from Ukraine."
7. Stubb and Pavel listening to questions from journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Stubb, Finnish President:
"We have to ask ourselves the question, how can Ukraine help us? That's why I have, from the beginning, been a strong advocate of Ukraine's EU membership, and of Ukraine's NATO membership. There's not one military in Europe or the United States, for that matter, that is capable to conduct modern warfare in the way in which Ukraine is doing now. That's why they're actually helping out in the Middle East."
9. End of news conference, leaders leaving
STORYLINE:
Czech President Petr Pavel met with his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, on Monday ahead of a conference on "Europe as a Challenge" in Prague.
The main topic of the meeting was the enhancement of the European pillar of NATO, Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.
"If I were to have only one message here today, it is to say that instead of us talking about what Ukraine needs from Europe, perhaps we should start thinking what we in Europe need from Ukraine," said Stubb at a news conference.
He added that "there's not one military in Europe or the United States, for that matter, that is capable to conduct modern warfare in the way in which Ukraine is doing now."
The Czech President was also asked about his recent statement, in which he said that "Trump has done more to reduce NATO's credibility than Vladimir Putin has managed over many years."
"If the strongest member of the Alliance, or a representative of the strongest member of the Alliance, describes the Alliance as a paper tiger, then that certainly does nothing to boost its credibility," said Pavel. "Especially since it isn't quite true. And from this perspective, if we look at it from the other side, President Putin can, of course, only be pleased by such a statement."
The last presidential visit between the two countries took place in June 2005, when Vaclav Klaus met Finnish President Tarja Halonen in Finland. Stubb also visited Czechia as the President two years ago, when he attended the Globsec conference.
AP Video by Stanislav Hodina
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RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague, Czech Republic - 4 May 2026
1. Various of Finnish President Alexander Stubb arriving, greeting Czech President Petr Pavel
2. Various of Stubb and Pavel during welcome ceremony
3. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Pavel, Czech President:
"And if the strongest member of the Alliance, or a representative of the strongest member of the Alliance, describes the Alliance as a paper tiger, then that certainly does nothing to boost its credibility. Especially since it isn't quite true. And from this perspective, if we look at it from the other side, President Putin can, of course, only be pleased by such a statement."
4. Stubb and Pavel inspecting honor guards of Prague Castle
5. Various of Stubb and Pavel seated for talks
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Stubb, Finnish President:
"But if I were to have only one message here today, it is to say that instead of us talking about what Ukraine needs from Europe, perhaps we should start thinking what we in Europe need from Ukraine."
7. Stubb and Pavel listening to questions from journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Stubb, Finnish President:
"We have to ask ourselves the question, how can Ukraine help us? That's why I have, from the beginning, been a strong advocate of Ukraine's EU membership, and of Ukraine's NATO membership. There's not one military in Europe or the United States, for that matter, that is capable to conduct modern warfare in the way in which Ukraine is doing now. That's why they're actually helping out in the Middle East."
9. End of news conference, leaders leaving
STORYLINE:
Czech President Petr Pavel met with his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, on Monday ahead of a conference on "Europe as a Challenge" in Prague.
The main topic of the meeting was the enhancement of the European pillar of NATO, Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East.
"If I were to have only one message here today, it is to say that instead of us talking about what Ukraine needs from Europe, perhaps we should start thinking what we in Europe need from Ukraine," said Stubb at a news conference.
He added that "there's not one military in Europe or the United States, for that matter, that is capable to conduct modern warfare in the way in which Ukraine is doing now."
The Czech President was also asked about his recent statement, in which he said that "Trump has done more to reduce NATO's credibility than Vladimir Putin has managed over many years."
"If the strongest member of the Alliance, or a representative of the strongest member of the Alliance, describes the Alliance as a paper tiger, then that certainly does nothing to boost its credibility," said Pavel. "Especially since it isn't quite true. And from this perspective, if we look at it from the other side, President Putin can, of course, only be pleased by such a statement."
The last presidential visit between the two countries took place in June 2005, when Vaclav Klaus met Finnish President Tarja Halonen in Finland. Stubb also visited Czechia as the President two years ago, when he attended the Globsec conference.
AP Video by Stanislav Hodina
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/199dd11369ab48799d63a55b394f9a7e
