After nearly eight years as Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk left Germany for Kiev. In the late morning he crossed the border into Poland by car, he told the German news agency. His successor Oleksij Makeyev is expected in Berlin on Monday.
The change at the head of the embassy will only take place formally with the accreditation of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for which there is no official date yet.
Frequent guest in German talk shows
Melnyk, 47, became ambassador to Germany in January 2015 and has made a name for himself here with an unusually harsh crackdown on the German government as a diplomat. In the first months of the war, Melnyk became one of the most frequent guests on German talk shows. Hardly a day went by when he did not demand battle tanks and anti-aircraft guns and accused the government of hesitation and procrastination.
“I think I managed to get the Germans interested in the subject of Ukraine, to make sure Ukraine is really recognized and understood here,” Melnyk told dpa before leaving. “When I come home now, I am proud that many weapons systems have been delivered from Germany, which help us to liberate the occupied territories and our compatriots step by step.” But Melnyk also stressed that more had to be delivered, “to drive out the Russians”.
Melnyk’s family initially stayed in Germany, mainly because of his daughter (11), who went to school in Berlin. His son (20) studies here.
Melnyk under discussion as deputy foreign minister
Melnyk himself is now under discussion as deputy foreign minister, a position he previously held. However, the government has not yet taken a final decision on this. “That’s why I’m excited about what’s in store for me. I’ll probably see President Zelensky on Tuesday. And hopefully he’ll tell me in person where he sees me in his big team,” Melnyk told dpa.
As a former ambassador, he also wants to occasionally get involved in German politics with requests to speak: “I can’t promise to keep my mouth shut,” he said before leaving.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
