Ukraine apparently removes its controversial ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, from the firing line and takes him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiev. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a corresponding “proposal” from the Foreign Ministry, the Bild reported Tuesday. The switch of the 46-year-old should take place in the autumn. In Berlin, the pointed-tongued diplomat is often offended.
The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” also reported, citing circles of the Kiev presidential office, that Melnyk should leave his post in Berlin and move to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kiev. According to “Bild” he could become deputy foreign minister there. The government in Kiev and Melnyk themselves have not yet responded to questions from the German news agency.
“Go to hell with your ‘advice'”
Melnyk recently caused a stir, for example, with his response to a call from German celebrities, journalists and scientists calling on Western governments to do everything possible to ensure that Russia and Ukraine “reach a negotiated solution as soon as possible” ” . Melnyk’s Twitter response was rather unusual for a diplomat: “Not again, what a bunch of pseudo-intellectual losers. You should all go to hell with your defeatist ‘advice’. Bye.”
Controversial views also on Ukrainian history
In addition to regularly sharply criticizing the German government’s Ukraine policy, Melnyk also drew attention last week with a controversial statement about former Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera (1909-1959): “Bandera was not a mass murderer of Jews and Poles”, he said in an interview. There’s no evidence for that. Outrage came from Poland and the Israeli embassy in Berlin, among others. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Melnyk had given his personal position, which was not the ministry’s position.
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.
