At the Prague Defence Summit, Czech President Petr Pavel expressed grave concerns about the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict, predicting a painful partial defeat for Ukraine due to insufficient Western support. Emphasizing that ‘hope is not a strategy,’ Pavel warned of Russia’s increasing effectiveness and its alliances with countries like China, North Korea, and Iran. Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas echoed these sentiments, stressing Europe’s vulnerability to Russian aggression, while military leaders called for urgent increases in defense spending and readiness amidst a backdrop of hybrid warfare tactics by Moscow.