Pavel says he is not seeking EU negotiator role as Dublin summit nears
The Czech president denied reports he is a candidate for the position while Italian PM Meloni pushes for a decision at an upcoming informal summit.
By Scott Marshall ·
Czech President Petr Pavel denied having ambitions to serve as the European negotiator for ending the war in Ukraine. He made the remarks on Thursday following a meeting of Visegrád Group leaders in Trenčín, Slovakia. Pavel said he would be glad to share his experience from his time in NATO and the European Union, but he stressed that European states must decide who they consider their representative.
The comments come two weeks after The Telegraph reported that Pavel is among five politicians being considered by European leaders for the role. The British news site cited diplomatic sources for the claim that he might negotiate with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Pavel acknowledged seeing his name in the report alongside others but described the coverage as journalistic speculation. He clarified that no negotiations had taken place regarding his appointment.
Pavel noted that he had previously spoken on the topic, as had the other individuals mentioned in the press. He suggested that these repeated public comments may have fueled the speculation. He also stated that no specific names had been discussed during the recent Visegrád Group meeting.
The timing of the denial coincides with a push by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to resolve the issue. Meloni wrote a private letter urging European Council President António Costa to discuss the appointment at an informal summit in Dublin this month. ANSA and Adnkronos news agencies cited the letter in their reports. Meloni argued that it is extremely important for Europe to speak with one voice regarding the conflict.
In the letter, Meloni warned that without a joint EU representative and a defined mandate, the bloc risks being powerless in negotiations. She emphasized the need for a unified approach to end the war. The Dublin summit is scheduled for November, providing a near-term deadline for the decision.
Pavel, who headed the NATO Military Committee from June 2015 to June 2018, previously stated that there is a window of opportunity to engage in negotiations. He warned that this window could close if European countries struggle to find a completely unified position. The appointment of a negotiator remains a point of discussion among European leaders as they prepare for the Dublin meeting.
