After criticism: Ukrainian ambassador Melnyk is to be withdrawn
Created: 06/07/2022 04:58
By: Nail Akkoyun, Marvin Ziegele
Andriy Melnyk, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany.
(Archive photo) © imago-images
Andriy Melnyk, the frequently criticized Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, is to be removed from his post, according to media reports.
Update from Tuesday, July 5, 10:33 a.m .:
According to media reports, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, should be recalled and move to the Foreign Ministry in Kiev.
The
Bild
, citing several sources, reported that the Foreign Ministry had proposed this to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The 46-year-old could still change in the fall.
Melnyk could become deputy foreign minister, the newspaper wrote.
The
Süddeutsche Zeitung
also reported, citing circles in the Ukrainian Presidential Office, that Melnyk is to leave his post in Berlin and move to the Foreign Ministry in Kiev.
Melnyk is known in Germany for his sharp criticism of the government's Ukraine policy.
Most recently, he came under pressure with controversial statements about the former nationalist leader Stepan Bandera (1909-1959).
Melnyk defended Bandera in an interview with "jung und naiv" and said: "Bandera was not a mass murderer of Jews and Poles." There is no evidence for that.
Sharp criticism of the statements came from Poland and the Israeli embassy in Berlin, among others.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Melnyk had stated his personal position, which was not the ministry's position.
Ukrainian Ambassador Melnyk is to be withdrawn from Germany
First report from Monday, July 4, 5:30 p.m.:
Berlin – The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, who has come under criticism, should leave the Federal Republic and return to Kiev.
There, Melnyk could switch to the foreign ministry and become deputy foreign minister.
This reports the
image
, which refers to several sources in the Ukrainian capital.
The newspaper quotes a government official: “This proposal was made by the Ministry to the President of Ukraine.
Andriy Melnyk is very much appreciated in Kyiv for his work.” The move from Berlin could take place before the fall, it was said.
Melnyk recently had to explain, among other things, his homage to Stepan Bandera, who is considered by many to be a Nazi collaborator.
In addition, he described Chancellor Olaf Scholz as "offended liverwurst", for which the lawyer later apologized.
(nak/marv)