After a two-year break, the Czech Republic will again be represented by an ambassador to Russia

After a two-year break, the Czech Republic will again have an ambassador in Russia. He will be Daniel Koštoval, an experienced diplomat and former Deputy Minister of Defence. The appointment comes at a time when relations between the Czech Republic and Russia are very tense, mainly due to the situation in Ukraine and previous diplomatic conflicts, such as the Vrbětice case from 2021, which led to the mutual expulsion of diplomats and the departure of the Czech ambassador from Moscow.

Daniel Koštoval has had a long career in security and foreign policy. According to information published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, from 2018 to 2022 he served as the Director of the Security Policy Department, where he focused, among other things, on the analysis of relations with Eastern European countries and security threats in the region. ¨

Previously, he also held the position of Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Defence, where he was involved in the development of the Czech Republic's security strategy, including responses to the growing tensions with Russia. Czech Radio reports that Koštoval is known for his analytical approach and experience in crisis management, which could be key to his work in Moscow.

The new ambassador reportedly wants to try to establish at least a basic dialogue with Russian diplomats, despite the complicated bilateral relations. In recent years, Russia has placed the Czech Republic on its list of "enemy states", which makes any form of cooperation very difficult. However, Koštoval believes that even in such a situation, open communication can contribute to greater predictability and reduce the risk of further escalation.

Koštoval's nomination was approved by the Government on the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Republic.

According to the Euractiv website, Koštoval's appointment could be seen as a signal that the Czech Republic does not want to completely cut off diplomatic channels, despite Russian aggression and EU sanctions. Experts say Koštoval's mission will be challenging, as Russia has reduced its cooperation with European countries in recent years and its diplomatic actions are often unpredictable. Still, his role is seen as key to maintaining basic communication and obtaining information that could be important for the security policy of the Czech Republic and the European Union as a whole.

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