Czech president warns against Western disunity in Berlin speech

In Tuesday's debate hosted by the German Council for Foreign Relations (DGAP), Czech President Petr Pavel cautioned against the West's lack of unity in its approach towards Russia and China. He emphasized the importance of providing continued support to Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression, highlighting that the upcoming year will be crucial in determining the outcome of the conflict.

"Twenty years ago, we believed that a bright future was ahead of us," Pavel said at the beginning of his speech in the DGAP.

Pavel, the former Czech chief of staff and former head of the NATO Military Committee, added that during the Munich 2007 security conference, Western states underestimated the power ambitions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and expected reconciliation between former Cold War-era enemies. Putin's speech at the conference heralded Russia's intention to make a comeback as a major power, marking the first signs of this underestimation.

Putin, too, underestimated the situation by expecting Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine to meet with Western countries' disunity and the Ukrainian military's weakness like in 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and provoked a pro-Russian rebellion in Donbas, Pavel said.

Pavel believes that the upcoming year will be crucial in the Ukrainian conflict as neither party will have the capacity for further offensives. He stressed that a rapid supply of necessary weapons to Kyiv is in the interest of Europe.

The president also warned against a potential rift between Western countries and cautioned against Europe attempting to compete with the U.S. and other Western states. Instead, he urged countries adhering to Western values to prioritize cooperation and strengthening their unity, particularly in the face of China's increasing influence.

Ukraine's determination to defend itself against the Russian invasion is an example for the West to act accordingly. "Ukraine is currently united as never before," Pavel said.

Pavel warned against a potential rift between Western countries and cautioned against Europe attempting to compete with the USA and other Western states. Instead, he urged countries adhering to Western values to prioritize cooperation and strengthening their unity, particularly in the face of China's increasing influence.

China was also among the issues Pavel discussed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at their meeting later on Tuesday. "Relations [with China] are undergoing a revision in our country as well as in Germany," Pavel said and added that Germany showed interest in Czechia's position in this respect.