Czech President denies having ambitions to become European negotiator for Ukraine

Czech President Petr Pavel has stated that he has no ambitions to become a European negotiator aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Source: a statement made after a meeting of the heads of state of the Visegrád Group (V4) in Trenčín, Slovakia, as reported by European Pravda, citing České noviny

Details: The Czech president was answering a question about whether he would accept an offer to become a negotiator. The British news website The Telegraph wrote about Pavel's potential role as a negotiator 14 days ago.

Pavel stated that he definitely has no such ambitions. He added that he would certainly be glad to share his experience working in both NATO and the European Union but stressed that it is undoubtedly up to European states to decide whom they consider their representative. (Pavel headed the NATO Military Committee from June 2015 to June 2018).

The Telegraph, citing diplomatic sources, reported that Pavel is among five politicians being considered by European leaders as chief negotiators with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. On Thursday, Pavel stated that no names had been discussed.

The president noted that he understood his name had been mentioned in The Telegraph along with several others, but he would describe it as journalistic speculation. He clarified that there had definitely been no negotiations. Pavel added that he had repeatedly spoken out on this issue, as had the others whose names were mentioned, which might be where the speculation originated.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged European Council President António Costa to discuss the appointment of a European negotiator at an informal summit in Dublin in November, according to a private letter cited by the ANSA and Adnkronos news agencies.

In the letter, Meloni noted that it is extremely important for Europe to be able to speak with "one voice" regarding the war in Ukraine. According to Meloni, without the appointment of a joint EU representative and the definition of their mandate, the EU risks being powerless in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Background: Czech President Petr Pavel had previously stated that there is currently a window of opportunity to engage in negotiations, but it could close due to efforts to find a completely unified position among all European countries.

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