Before departing for the NATO summit in Turkey on July 7, 2026, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and President Petr Pavel appeared separately, with their press conferences revealing deep political divisions. Prime Minister Babiš, accompanied by Ministers Zůna and Macinka, criticized the state's financial situation and refused to fund aid to Ukraine from the Czech budget to meet the 2% GDP defense commitment. In contrast, President Pavel emphasized the need for action in aiding Ukraine and warned of deficiencies in the combat readiness of the Czech military. While Babiš appeared restless and ignored contact with the president, Pavel appeared relaxed and emphasized the importance of cooperation with the government, despite criticizing its decisions regarding the Ministry of Defense budget. Their differing stances on defense, Ukraine, and mutual cooperation clearly illustrate the current state of relations between the two highest-ranking Czech politicians.