Europe Must Learn from Ukraine’s War Experience, Finnish President Says

In Prague, Stubb and Pavel said Ukraine’s combat experience should shape Europe’s future defense planning. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Czech President Petr Pavel (R) and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb at talks in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Speaking in Prague alongside Czech President Petr Pavel on Monday, Finland’s president said Ukraine’s battlefield experience makes it a strategic asset for Europe and NATO. Finnish President Alexander Stubb argued that Europe should shift its focus from “what it can do for Ukraine” to “what Ukraine can do for Europe.” Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “We should gradually shift our thinking from ‘how can we help Ukraine’ to ‘how can Ukraine help us,’” Stubb said. Praising Ukraine’s armed forces for their battlefield adaptation, he added: “There is no other army in Europe or in the United States that is capable of modern warfare in the way Ukraine is.” Stubb, who became Finland’s president in 2024 after previously serving as prime minister and foreign minister, has remained a vocal supporter of Ukraine and stronger European security coordination following Finland’s accession to NATO. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has rapidly adapted to evolving battlefield conditions, integrating drone warfare, electronic warfare, decentralized command structures, and Western weapons systems at a pace that has drawn attention from military planners worldwide. Military analysts and NATO officials have increasingly pointed to Ukraine’s combat experience as a source of lessons in high-intensity warfare, particularly in drone deployment, artillery coordination, battlefield communications, and resilience against larger conventional forces. Other Topics of Interest Poland Moves to Grant Displaced Ukrainians 3-Year Residency The transition comes as Europe weighs policy changes for displaced Ukrainians as Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine is now in its fifth year. Pavel, a former NATO Military Committee chairman and retired general, echoed those concerns by warning that questioning NATO’s credibility only serves the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Referring to “paper tiger” comments, he said such rhetoric undermines allied unity and benefits Moscow. The Prague meeting underscored ongoing efforts by European allies to maintain political and military backing for Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly argued that its armed forces are not only defending Ukrainian territory but also serving as Europe’s first line of defense against Russian expansionism. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.