Czechia ready to appoint new ambassador to Moscow

The Czech Republic has set in motion the process of appointing a new ambassador to Russia, President Petr Pavel told the country’s national broadcaster Czech Television on Sunday. The former Czech ambassador to Moscow, Vítězslav Pivoňka, was recalled by the Czech government at the end of May. The name of his successor is not yet known. Mr. Pavel said the process of agrément, or official consent from Russia, could take months or even a year. The Czech head of state was initially reserved about the appointment of a Czech ambassador to Moscow. "The impetus for me was that the process that should lead to peace in Ukraine has begun. It started with the peace conference in Switzerland," the president said.