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Chancellor Scholz
Photo: Markus Scholz / dpa
After the refusal of a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Ukraine invited Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to Kyiv.
"We also communicated that my President and the government would be very happy if Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv," said the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, on Tuesday evening on ProSieben and SAT.1.
The visit should be about how Germany can help Ukraine with heavy weapons in the fight against Russia.
"My President is looking forward to that," said Melnyk.
There is currently no reaction from the Chancellery to the invitation.
The Ukrainian government had previously canceled Steinmeier's visit to the Ukrainian capital.
“I was ready.
But apparently - and I have to acknowledge that - that was not wanted in Kyiv," said the Federal President during a visit to Warsaw.
A joint solidarity visit was planned with the heads of state of Poland and the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
But that is no longer the case.
The reason for the cancellation is apparently Steinmeier's close ties to Russia in recent years.
As foreign minister, Steinmeier was in close contact with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Ukraine demands heavy weapons
Steinmeier had only just admitted mistakes in his earlier Russia policy.
In a detailed interview with SPIEGEL, the Federal President was particularly remorseful for his years of commitment to the controversial Nord Stream pipeline.
He had also called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be brought before the war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
You can read a comment on the Federal President's invitation here: An unnecessary affront
You can find SPIEGEL's interview with the Federal President here: "I was still hoping for a remnant of rationality from Vladimir Putin."
Ukraine is demanding heavy weapons such as battle tanks, artillery pieces and air defense systems from Germany.
Many other states within NATO, such as the Czech Republic, have already opted for the delivery of heavy weapons, stressed Melnyk.
"That's why we hope that the same decision will soon be made in the traffic light coalition and that this blocking attitude will be abandoned." Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has spoken out in favor of the delivery of heavy weapons, Chancellor Scholz has so far been reluctant to answer relevant questions voiced.
ok/dpa
