The Czech Republic, currently not represented at the top diplomatic level in Moscow, will send an ambassador to Russia at some point in the future, President Petr Pavel told reporters after Thursday’s meeting of top constitutional officials on foreign policy issues, Czech Radio reported.
The current Czech ambassador to Russia, Vítězslav Pivoňka, was recalled home as relations worsened after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has already been in Prague for several months. Diplomat Jiří Čistecký is now the country’s top representative in Moscow.
Earlier, Pavel was more reserved on the issue of sending a new ambassador to Moscow, while Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates) argued the need to maintain dialogue with Russia even in difficult times. Now the president said the issue was not “if but when”.
As Prime Minister Petr Fiala said already in March, in his opinion, Czechia should have similar diplomatic representation in Russia to its allies.
The UK and Germany sent new ambassadors to Russia this year, despite that country’s aggression towards Ukraine.
During Thursday’s meeting, the country’s top officials also agreed on the need to continue supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia.
(Ondřej Plevák | Euractiv.cz)
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