The British website The Telegraph wrote on 22 October 2026, citing diplomatic sources, that President Petr Pavel is among five politicians whom European leaders are considering as chief negotiator with Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine. According to the website, some candidates have already been approached. The others under consideration are Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre. According to one of the sources, it is more likely that Europe will be represented by a group of leaders, in order to avoid rivalry between states and vetoes of individual candidates.
According to the website's sources, Pavel's profile is favourable because as a former chairman of the NATO Military Committee he has experience of negotiating with the Russians at military level. According to the Czech News Agency, the report was covered in particular by Russian media, including the agency TASS, on the night of 23 October.
In an interview for the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, of which The Telegraph is also part, Pavel said that Europe must designate "a person or a group of people who will speak for Europe". According to him, they need not necessarily be representatives of the European Union or NATO, but leaders with a mandate from the others. He proposed offering Putin "some sweetener", for example the restoration of trade and cooperation, and easing sanctions only on condition of a ceasefire and peace talks.
Chronology
- — According to the British daily The Telegraph, President Petr Pavel is among the candidates to negotiate with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine. ČTK / České noviny FORUM 24
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 23 October 2026
- FORUM 24 — 23 October 2026