Now Melnyk is reacting to his dismissal - and describes "a kind of love-hate relationship" with Germany

Created: 07/12/2022, 04:50

By: Christoph Gschossmann

Andriy Melnyk is no longer Ambassador of Ukraine in Germany.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed him.

Now he reacts himself.

Update from July 10, 9:47 p.m .: Saying

goodbye to Germany is not easy for the recalled Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk.

"Germany remains in our hearts," Melnyk told the

, "saying goodbye is difficult for us."

"I was in Germany twice, I have a very close relationship with this country, which was also a kind of love-hate relationship."

His term of office will formally “probably end in a few weeks,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Then he and his family would travel to Ukraine.

During his time as ambassador, i.e. since the start of the Russian-controlled war in eastern Ukraine, he had "rejected other job offers" in order to be able to continue his mission in Germany.

Melnyk dismissed: CDU politician praises outgoing Ukraine ambassador

Update from July 10, 3:35 p.m .:

Even if Andriy Melnyk, who has now been called up as ambassador, was recently seen very critically in the German public, he gets applause from the Union when he says goodbye.

"Ambassador Melnyk fought for his people during these difficult times," attests foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU) in the

.

He had "made important services" for Ukraine.

Melnyk pointed out the Russian threat and asked for support even before the Russian attack on the country began on February 24.

Kiesewetter showed understanding for the ambassador's sometimes somewhat crude choice of words.

The foreign expert said: "The fact that he did not always hit the diplomatic tone here is more than understandable in view of the unbelievable war crimes and the suffering for the Ukrainian people."

Update from July 9, 10:30 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has commented on the recall of Ambassador Andriy Melnyk from Germany.

The decision was a normal process.

“Today I signed decrees dismissing some ambassadors of Ukraine.

This issue of rotation is a common part of diplomatic practice," Zelenskyy said in a video message on Saturday.

He did not name Melnyk or the other four ambassadors who had been recalled.

"New representatives of Ukraine will be appointed for the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Norway and India," Zelenskyy said.

The candidates would be prepared by the State Department.

The recall of Andrij Melnyk from Germany caused a stir, mainly because of the ambassador's controversial statements in the past.

As reports in the

and

suggest, however, Melnyk could also be recalled as part of a promotion.

The 46-year-old could become the new deputy foreign minister in Kyiv.

Warm farewell words: The previous Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk received praise from the Union.

© Christophe Gateau/dpa

Ukraine-News: Selenskyj dismisses Melnyk as ambassador to Germany

First report from July 9:

Berlin/Kiev – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has dismissed Andriy Melnyk as Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany.

The corresponding decree was published on the official website of the President of Ukraine.

In addition to Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassadors to Norway, the Czech Republic, Hungary and India were also dismissed, according to the Presidential Office.

Reasons or a future use of the diplomats were not initially mentioned.

also read

Turkey expert on Erdogan's NATO turnaround: "They want to play off the major powers against each other"

Putin threatens "catastrophe": Now the ordeal begins in Germany

Melnyk dismissed as ambassador: Controversial statements caused a stir

During the Ukraine conflict, Melnyk repeatedly caused a stir with controversial statements.

Most recently, after days of silence, he rejected the accusation that his statements about the Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera played down the Holocaust.

"Anyone who knows me knows: I have always condemned the Holocaust in the strongest possible terms," ​​Melnyk wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

The allegations against him are "absurd".

In an interview with journalist Tilo Jung, the 46-year-old denied that Bandera was a mass murderer of Jews and Poles.

The nationalist was deliberately demonized by the Soviet Union.

The Israeli embassy then accused the ambassador of "distorting historical facts, playing down the Holocaust and insulting those who were murdered by Bandera and his people".

The government in Kyiv then distanced itself from Melnyk's statements.

The statements made by the 46-year-old in the direction of the Federal Chancellor also caused a stir among the German population.

Olaf Scholz had initially rejected a visit to Ukraine after Kyiv had explicitly disinvited Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Melnyk then described the chancellor as "offended liverwurst".

Scholz finally traveled to Ukraine in June and Melnyk publicly stated that he later regretted his statements.

Ukraine: Melnyk leaves Germany – reports of a move to the Foreign Ministry

The

and the

recently reported, citing Ukrainian sources, that Melnyk should be recalled and move to the Foreign Ministry in Kiev.

The 46-year-old could become Deputy Foreign Minister in the fall, wrote the

.

Melnyk has been ambassador to Germany since 2015 – an exceptionally long time for a diplomat in one post.

Commentators in Kyiv also said on Saturday that this was about double the usual posting time.

After taking Luhansk, Russia is now attacking Ukraine massively in Donetsk