After appearing at Lanz: Melnyk invites Kretschmer – “You are not wanted”
Created: 08/28/2022, 11:27 am
By: Teresa Toth
The Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk has already sharply criticized German politicians in the past.
© Christophe Gateau/dpa
The Ukrainian ambassador Andrij Melnyk is outraged by statements by Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer on the war - and invites him.
Berlin – "With your absurd rhetoric about freezing the war, you are playing into Putin's hands and fueling Russia's aggression," wrote Andriy Melnyk, the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany on Twitter.
He refers to statements by Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer about the Ukraine war, because of which he withdrew an invitation from the CDU politician to his homeland.
The Saxon head of government was on Wednesday (24 August) on the ZDF talk show Markus Lanz, where the guests discussed the Russian war of aggression.
Kretschmer said it was important "to stand up for the fact that this war has to be frozen, that we need a ceasefire, that we need negotiations to end this war".
However, he experiences this “very little in the public debate”.
Invitation withdrawn by Michael Kretschmer (CDU): He spoke of freezing the war
The Prime Minister of Saxony described the Russian invasion of Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin as a "terrible crime".
He emphasized: "Russia must not win the war, that is absolutely right."
In his eyes, however, "an attempt should not be made in this war to be decided on the battlefield, because that could have such dire consequences for all of us".
Instead, according to the CDU politician, diplomacy offers the opportunity to talk to each other, even “if you have completely different opinions, if you are enemies.”
Michael Kretschmer (CDU) is not allowed to go to Ukraine: Melnyk is known for criticizing German politicians
Melnyk, who has been ambassador to Germany since the end of 2014, was outraged by the 47-year-old politician's statements.
His invitation to Kretschmer to visit Ukraine was therefore "cancelled", according to Melnyk.
"You are not wanted.
Period,” added the ambassador.
The ambassador has already caused a stir in the past due to harsh criticism of German politicians.
He described Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) as "offended liverwurst" when he initially did not want to travel to Kyiv after Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had been uninvited from the Ukraine.
Melnyk will remain in office until October 14, 2022, after which he will move to Kyiv.
(tt)