Czech Army Chief Says Ukraine Belongs in NATO

Czech Defense Staff chief Gen. Karel Řehka said that Ukraine should eventually join NATO, describing membership as the next “logical step” for European security.

Speaking to Politico during the GLOBSEC forum in Prague on Thursday, Řehka said Ukraine had already proven itself not only as a recipient of security assistance but also as a contributor to European defense.

“Ukraine is not just a security consumer, it’s also a security provider,” Řehka said.

“I’m not saying it’s easy. At the end of the day, it’s about political consensus, but I think that’s the direction we should be heading to,” he added.

Ukraine has sought NATO membership for years, though the issue faced resistance from countries including Germany and the US.

According to Politico, the prospect of Ukrainian accession has largely fallen off the agenda since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Ukraine formally applied for fast-track NATO membership on Sept. 30, 2022.

The application was signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and then-Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Kyiv had previously applied for a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) during the 2008 Bucharest summit.

The request was never formally withdrawn.

At the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11, 2023, alliance members agreed that Ukraine would eventually become a member without requiring a MAP.

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G7 countries also adopted a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, outlining long-term security commitments and creating a framework for broader participation.

In April, Zelensky said Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal without securing NATO membership was a “historic mistake,” arguing the country received no real security guarantees.

Czech military chief calls for higher defense spending

Řehka also urged the Czech government to increase military above NATO’s former 2% of GDP target.

The issue remains politically sensitive in Prague amid disagreements between Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš over defense priorities.

During his campaign, Babiš pledged to cancel the Czech-led ammunition initiative for Ukraine, arguing that funds should be spent on the domestic population.

Since taking office, he has said the initiative will continue in a coordinating role if it is fully funded by international partners.

Babiš had initially proposed reducing military spending to 1.8% of GDP despite NATO commitment to increase defense spending.

However, Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna said earlier this month that Prague plans to increase funding ahead of the upcoming NATO summit.

“We need to go higher [than 2%], otherwise none of the government’s promises about air defense or supporting the defense industry will materialize,” Řehka said.

Earlier on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that many alliance members are not contributing enough money to support Ukraine.

Aid to Ukraine “is not evenly distributed now within NATO,” Rutte told reporters in Helsingborg ahead of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting.

“There is a limited amount of countries, including Sweden, which is really punching above its weight when it comes to the support for Ukraine,” he said.