Steinmeier scandal: Scholz irritated by unloading - Selenskyj: Never received an "official" visit request
Created: 04/14/2022, 04:48 am
By: Florian Naumann, Magdalena Fürthauer, Cindy Boden
Federal President Steinmeier is not wanted in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, serious allegations against former Chancellor Angela Merkel.
News ticker.
Ukraine conflict
*: The Ukrainian ambassador raises serious allegations
against former Chancellor
Angela Merkel .
She was
"trusted almost blindly"
.
According to a quick survey, 63% of Germans have
no understanding
for Steinmeier's disinvitation from Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf
Scholz finds the incident "irritating"
, while SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich warns Ukraine against
interfering
in German domestic politics
.
This
news ticker on Germany's role in the Ukraine war
is continuously updated.
Update from April 13, 11:03 p.m.:
Confusion about the unloading of Federal President Steinmeier in Kiev.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Ukraine has not received an “official” request from Berlin for a visit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Neither he nor his office was officially asked by Steinmeier or the Office of the Federal President, Zelenskyj said in Kiev on Wednesday.
"We are a free country," he added.
"We can afford to surround ourselves with those who really support us, surround ourselves with real friends."
Steinmeier originally wanted to travel to Kyiv with his colleagues from Poland and the three Baltic states.
On Tuesday, however, he said the Ukrainian leadership had refused his visit.
The report was taken as a diplomatic affront and triggered criticism in Germany.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) described the decision as "somewhat irritating".
Update from April 13, 10:05 p.m .:
British Defense Secretary James Heappey calls on Berlin to send heavy weapons to Ukraine.
"When the transition to conventional open-field warfare comes, it needs armored vehicles and fighter jets," the Conservative Party politician told the
world
.
For the next phase of the war, he demands the
delivery of precision cannons to Ukraine
as well as heavy weapons.
Due to its turnaround in defense spending, Germany has a lot of money at its disposal.
"This moment is a huge opportunity for Euro-Atlantic security, which must adapt to the new situation," Heappey said.
Allegations against Angela Merkel in the Ukraine conflict - "almost blindly trusted"
Update from April 13, 7:35 p.m .:
While Federal President Steinmeier is apparently not wanted in Kiev because of previous Russia-friendly policies, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, is now raising
serious allegations against former Chancellor Angela Merkel
.
Melnyk told the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
(Thursday edition) that his country had "almost blindly trusted" Merkel.
"Nobody knew better than she how tense the relationship between Russia and Ukraine remained and that Putin does not want an agreement but the destruction of my homeland."
Nevertheless, the decision in favor of the
controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline and against arms deliveries
to Ukraine was made in Berlin, said Melnyk.
He asked Merkel to comment on her Russia policy.
"I think it would also be important for Germany that Ms. Merkel speak out." It's "not about assigning blame.
It's about understanding how the whole thing went wrong.” Merkel herself has not yet responded to the allegations.
The Ukrainian ambassador raises serious allegations against Angela Merkel.
In the past she has often been a guest of Russian President Putin, as here in August 2021. © IMAGO / ITAR-TASS / Mikhail Metzel
Steinmeier is uninvited to visit Ukraine - the majority of Germans have no understanding
Update from April 13, 6:25 p.m.:
A recent lightning poll by the opinion research
institute forsa
has shown that the majority of Germans have no understanding of the Ukrainian government’s rejection of Steinmeier.
According to this,
63% of those questioned
do not understand why the Federal President should not travel to Ukraine.
21% even believed that being uninvited would have a negative impact on support for Ukraine in Germany.
According to a majority of respondents, Chancellor Scholz must now travel to Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Federal President Steinmeier reiterated that one must continue to show solidarity with Ukraine.
It needs “sanctions that have noticeable consequences and hardships for us.
Solidarity also means being willing to bear the burden,” said Steinmeier on Wednesday.
Update from April 13, 5:30 p.m .:
While the scandal surrounding Steinmeier’s unloading in German domestic politics is great, the Mayor of Kiev
Vitali Klitschko
is now warning to continue to stand by Ukraine’s side in the war.
"We also defend you, everyone in Europe
," said Klischko on Wednesday in a live broadcast speech in the city council of Kiev's twin city of Leipzig.
Ukrainian citizens and soldiers defended not only their families and homes, but also "our values and principles".
Ukraine wants to be part of Europe.
"We don't want to live in a country where there are no human rights, no freedom of the press and no democratic values," Klitschko said to the Germans.
He expressly thanked the Federal Republic for the help and support, including the delivery of food and weapons.
He continues to hope for a diplomatic solution to end the war, even if he doesn't see it at the moment.
There are only two options: to increase the pressure on Russia through sanctions or to continue fighting, even if nobody can say how long this war will go on - "Weeks, months and - I hope not - years," said Klitschko.
It all also depends on the world community, which must "with an equal voice"
put pressure on the Kremlin
to end the war.
Ukraine conflict: Scholz reacts to Steinmeier's unloading - "somewhat irritating"
Update from April 13, 3:15 p.m .:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has now personally ruled on the invitation of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier* through Ukraine.
He criticized the move as "somewhat irritating".
"The Federal President would have liked to go to Ukraine," said Scholz on rbb's Inforadio.
"That's why it would have been good to receive him." Scholz did not answer the question of whether he would accept the existing invitation to Kiev himself - like a government spokesman before him (
see previous update
).
Scholz finds Steinmeier's invitation by Ukrainian President Selenskyj irritating.
© Sven Hoppe/AFP
After the refusal of Steinmeier, the Ukraine had invited the chancellor to Kyiv.
Such a visit should be about how Germany can help Ukraine with heavy weapons in the fight against Russia, said the Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk on ProSieben and Sat.1.
"My president is looking forward to that."
Scholz spokesman reacts to Steinmeier's unloading - and subtly points to the dimension of the scandal
Update from April 13, 2:36 p.m .:
The federal government has now responded to the scandal surrounding Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s canceled trip to Ukraine – and defended the Federal President.
Steinmeier took a "very clear and unequivocal" position on the side of Ukraine and, after his re-election in February, appealed to Vladimir Putin to loosen the "noose around Ukraine's neck," said deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner.
Germany's support for Ukraine is closely linked to the Federal President's many years of work.
"And that will remain so."
Büchner also emphasized: "The Federal President represents the Federal Republic of Germany." He made it clear that Germany was also disinvited along with Steinmeier.
Büchner did not answer the question of whether the federal government expects Ukraine to reverse the decision.
He also left open whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would accept Ukraine's invitation to visit Kyiv.
"We always inform you about the Federal Chancellor's appointments when they are due," he said.
Update from April 13, 2:18 p.m .:
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock regretted the Ukrainian government’s cancellation of a trip by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kiev.
"We talked about this trip together and I would have thought it would make sense," said the Green politician on Wednesday, referring to Steinmeier on the sidelines of a visit to the Malian capital of Bamako.
“The Federal President has already made it clear that he regrets not being able to travel.
I also regret that.” At the same time, Baerbock emphasized: “It is clear: we are fully on the side of Ukraine.
Supporting Ukraine in its defense on the ground, are in full solidarity.”
Germany and the Ukraine war: Mützenich warns against "interference"
Update from April 13, 1 p.m.:
The CDU has been arguing about a year of service for a long time.
Something should also be done with a view to the Ukraine war.
Questions to Johann Wadephul in the IPPEN.MEDIA interview.
Update from April 13, 12:15 p.m .:
The refusal of a visit by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Ukraine* is, according to SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, “not fair” to the relationships between the two countries.
The cancellation by the Ukrainian government was "regrettable," said Mützenich in Berlin on Wednesday.
He also called on all democratic parties to protect the head of state "from unjustified attacks".
At the same time, he warned Ukraine against interfering in German domestic politics.
"With all due respect for the existential threat to Ukraine posed by the Russian invasion, I expect Ukrainian representatives to adhere to a minimum of diplomatic conventions and
not unduly interfere in our country's domestic politics
," he said.
The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk has repeatedly criticized Steinmeier for his Russia policy in the past *, but also the federal government for its reluctance to impose sanctions on Russia and arms deliveries in an unusually sharp way.
Germany and the Ukraine War: Delivery of Heavy Weapons Soon?
Update from April 13, 12:07 p.m .:
Wladimir Klitschko was recently in Berlin and continues to hope for German support.
He is therefore critical of Steinmeier's rejected visit*.
Update from April 13, 11:34 a.m .:
Several SPD politicians are slowing down when it comes to delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine – but not all.
The pressure on Scholz increases from the opposition and traffic lights.
The FPD even surprises with an announcement.
Ukraine defends announcement to Steinmeier - but SPD politicians upset
Update from April 13, 9:55 a.m .:
SPD foreign policy expert Nils Schmid criticized Ukraine’s refusal to visit Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"
It's more than annoying.
We are friendly countries and it would have been a good sign if Steinmeier had traveled to Kyiv with the other heads of government," Schmid said on Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday.
Kiev's decision was met with "complete incomprehension by many in Germany".
Meanwhile , Ukrainian presidential adviser Olexey Arestovych pleaded
for understanding for his government 's cancellation of Steinmeier 's visit to Kiev
.
He does not know the reasons, but the policy and the decisions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyj are very balanced, said Arestovych on Wednesday, according to the translation in the ARD "Morgenmagazin".
"Our President is waiting for the Chancellor so that he can make practical decisions immediately, including the delivery of the weapons."
German-Ukrainian relationship "heavily strained"?
Union politician makes demands on Scholz
Update from April 13, 9:23 a.m .: The Union foreign politician Jürgen Hardt (CDU) sees a
“heavy burden” on the relationship between Germany and Ukraine
after Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was unloaded
.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) must
call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj today
, Hardt demanded on Wednesday in ARD's "Morgenmagazin".
Scholz should "discuss things in private with Selenskyj, and put all the complaints on both sides on the table," said the foreign policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
He assumes that this will also create a "new basis" for German-Ukrainian relations.
"Sooner or later, Scholz will have to seek direct talks with Selenskyj in the region himself, ideally in Kyiv," he added.
FDP politician Wolfgang Kubicki sees this point very differently.
Hardt expressed understanding for the Ukrainian decision not to visit Steinmeier.
As Chancellor’s Minister under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD), he “helped to make the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline possible” and as Foreign Minister played a role in the negotiations on the Minsk Agreement, with Ukraine only using the process at the time as a “stalling tactic” by Russian President Vladimir look at Putin.
The Ukrainian government accuses Germany of having "tolerated this for too long," said Hardt.
Affront to Germany?
Kubicki sharply criticizes the Ukrainian government - "not well advised"
Update from April 13, 6:05 a.m .:
After the Ukrainian leadership’s affront to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
, Deputy FDP Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki initially ruled out a trip by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kiev
.
"I cannot imagine that the chancellor of a government supported by the FDP travels to a country that declares our country's head of state an undesirable person," said Kubicki of the German Press Agency in Berlin.
The Vice President of the Bundestag was reacting to Steinmeier's invitation, who wanted to travel to Kyiv together with the Presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Steinmeier said on Tuesday evening in Warsaw on the sidelines of a visit that he had to accept that this was apparently not wanted in Kyiv.
Kubicki explained that he had every understanding of the political leadership in Ukraine.
The country is fighting for its survival.
"But everything has its limits.
I don't think that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was well advised to reject the offer of such a visit not only from Germany."
Update from April 12, 10:20 p.m .:
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck is pushing the pace of German arms deliveries to Ukraine.
"It's no use if we say: You'll get something in nine months.
Now that stuff has to go down there.
And that's how we act," said Habeck on Tuesday evening on ProSieben and SAT.1.
In view of the expected Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine is demanding heavy weapons such as battle tanks, artillery pieces and air defense systems from Germany.
"We are expecting the Russians to attack in the next few days*.
That means everything that helps the Ukrainian army now must be delivered quickly," Habeck said.
However, he also emphasized that the supplying countries should “not completely expose themselves”, i.e. they must maintain their own defense capabilities.
Germany's role in the Ukraine war: offer to visit Olaf Scholz
Update from April 12, 8:20 p.m .:
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, spoke out in favor of a trip by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Ukraine, despite the rejection of a visit by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
It is important "that the head of government comes to Kyiv"
, said Melnyk, according to excerpts distributed in advance, in an interview broadcast on ProSieben and Sat.1 on Tuesday evening.
In the past few days, the 46-year-old had spoken out in favor of a meeting between Scholz and President Selenskyj.
With a view to Scholz, Melnyk also reiterated his call for heavy weapons on Tuesday evening.
The Chancellor must make this decision.
During a visit to Kyiv, Scholz could also find out "how Ukraine could be helped even more".
Steinmeier "undesirable" in Ukraine - Federal President does not travel to Kyiv
Update from April 12, 5:10 p.m.:
While three Bundestag committee chairmen are traveling to Ukraine (
see preliminary report
),
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is “undesirable” with Volodymyr Selenskyj in Kiev
.
The Federal President confirmed this on Tuesday evening.
"In the past few days, the Polish President has suggested that we both take a trip to Kyiv together with the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in order to send and send a strong signal of common European solidarity with Ukraine," explained Steinmeier.
"I was willing to do that, but apparently - and I have to admit - that was not wanted in Kyiv."
Traffic light deputies travel to a secret appointment - Selenskyj probably invites Steinmeier
Preliminary report:
Berlin – After several top Eastern European politicians and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, a German delegation is now to travel to Ukraine – but without Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD)* and not to Kiev.
There is already a dispute about the date - and about another planned trip: Volodymyr Zelenskyj has apparently declared a visit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to be undesirable.
Instead of the Chancellor, it is the
chairmen of several Bundestag committees who have now made their way to Ukraine.
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the SPD foreign politician Michael Roth and the Greens chairman of the European Committee, Anton Hofreiter.
This was reported by the AFP news agency on Tuesday afternoon (April 12).
Germany in the Ukraine conflict: Bundestag committee heads travel to Ukraine - location remains secret
According to Spiegel
, Strack-Zimmermann, Roth and Hofreiter
accepted an invitation from the Ukrainian MP Halyna Yanchenko.
According to the information, she suggested a meeting in Lviv.
However, a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Rada, the parliament, is now planned closer to the Polish border.
There have also recently been airstrikes on facilities near Lviv.
For security reasons, the trip was kept secret until the end.
The exact location of the meeting in western Ukraine remains silent.
On the way to Ukraine, the three deputies apparently stopped in Poland.
Strack-Zimmermann shared a tweet from Polish politician Marek Kuchciński, who reported "very frank discussions" with the committee chairs.
In Germany, a dispute over possible deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine has been smoldering.
Several traffic light politicians, including Strack-Zimmermann and Roth, called for this.
Hofreiter had also recently spoken out in favor of further deliveries of weapons*, obviously with a heavy heart.
At the same time, an ex-adviser to Angela Merkel warned of a possible wrong turn in a “Third World War”*.
Ukraine trip by Hofreiter and Co. - Polenz sees CDU "excluded"
The former CDU General Secretary Ruprecht Polenz welcomed the trip in a tweet - but saw the Union as "excluded".
“The justification that she does not appoint any of the committee chairs is irrelevant.
It's about representing Parliament.
As with all delegations, the opposition is part of that,” he complained.
There were counters from the ranks of the Greens: "Not every trip by committee chairmen is an official delegation trip of the Bundestag," replied ex-minister Renate Künast.
"Then the rules are different.
But what's the point of complaining.
Ask someone from the Union to travel.” All three travelers belong to the parties of the traffic light coalition*.
Several parliamentarians had recently asked Olaf Scholz to travel to Ukraine.
"Personally, I would welcome it if the Chancellor traveled to Kyiv," said the designated FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai on Monday on RTL.
However, a rejection came from the Chancellery.
"I don't see any plans in this direction at the moment," said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann.
Selenskyj apparently invites Steinmeier out: "He is not welcome in Kyiv at the moment"
The problem situation for Frank-Walter Steinmeier is quite different.
According to a report by
Bild
, the Federal President wanted to travel to Kiev on Wednesday (April 13) together with government representatives from other EU countries.
However, Volodymyr Selenskyj* turned down a meeting: the reason was Steinmeier's connections to Russia.
The former SPD foreign minister recently apologized for his policy in dealing with the Kremlin *.
The paper quoted a Ukrainian diplomat as saying: "He is not welcome in Kyiv at the moment.
We'll see if that changes again.” The remaining EU visitors are apparently welcome.
(
fn with material from AFP
)
