On Thursday, Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva Pavlova began an official visit to Warsaw. Gazeta Wyborcza published an interview with the Czech leader headlined as I ask the Poles for more common sense. The piece suggests support for a critical view of the Polish government, but the full interview itself does not necessarily echo that interpretation. The conversation touches on shared concerns, regional dynamics, and the direction of European policy as seen from Prague and Warsaw.
Cooperation and political interests
Petr Pavel arrived in Poland a week after taking office as President of the Czech Republic. Before the visit, he gave an interview to Gazeta Wyborcza. The discussion opened with questions about the war in Ukraine and Western responses. Pavel stated that he cannot imagine endorsing a conflict escalation with Vladimir Putin and that Ukraine should retain sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. He added that sustained war fatigue could reduce Western support for Ukraine, while underscoring that assistance should remain steadfast while Kyiv prepares for potential military operations.
He also spoke about the need for international partners to maintain high levels of support for Ukraine. The Czech president stressed that there is a singular chance for any future ground offensive in Ukraine and that reliable backing is essential for Kyiv’s plans to succeed.
Pavel was asked about Hungary’s stance. He explained longstanding reservations about the Visegrad group as a forum for foreign and security policy, noting that while the group functions well as a platform for dialogue, it is not a vehicle for a unified approach on all issues. He emphasized that a deeper common foreign policy among Visegrad members is unlikely given divergent positions on Russia and Ukraine policy.
In his own words, a shared foreign policy is not a prerequisite for effective regional cooperation. The Czech leader pointed out that the differences among Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia mean a joint policy would be impractical in the short term yet does not negate value from continued collaboration.
Questions about Poland
Regarding Poland, Pavel noted that observers from Czerska might expect a critique of certain political parties. He simply reminded that circumstances can shift and that a constructive mindset is needed to prevent negative tendencies from taking root.
He urged a positive attitude and cautioned against letting partisan conflicts dominate the agenda. The conversation then turned to media dynamics in Poland. When asked how he would confront disinformation in state media, Pavel replied that openness and transparency are the key tools. He also acknowledged that Europe faces periods of peace as well as crisis, and that the EU must be prepared to respond to both.
Pavel asserted that crises offer opportunities to revisit core values, work hard, and pursue a better future. He was questioned about concerns of German influence in Europe. He described Germany and France as major European powers and argued that a balance of power is necessary. If seven or eight Central and Eastern European countries align, he suggested, it would create enough leverage to protect national interests without undermining the European project. The idea, as he framed it, is a counterbalance rather than domination.
When asked about his message for Warsaw, Pavel encouraged practical cooperation and pragmatic compromises. He urged flexibility and a readiness to find common solutions that advance shared interests, even if it requires concessions on some secondary priorities for a larger national or continental goal.
The conversation then linked back to the interview title in Gazeta Wyborcza, inviting readers to consider how these thoughts fit the framing used by the publication. The broader theme remained clear: credible partnerships and clear communication are vital for regional stability as Ukraine continues to navigate its path forward, with Poland and the Czech Republic standing as strategic partners in that effort.
Source: wPolityce