Rejection of meetings in Kyiv
Melnyk calls Scholz “offended liver sausage”
5/3/2022 4:01 am
Since the Ukrainian government is prohibiting Federal President Steinmeier from visiting Kyiv, his party colleague Scholz is also refusing to travel there. The Chancellor’s refusal met with criticism from the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin – he called it “not very statesmanlike”.
The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk has sharply criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s provisional no to a trip to Kyiv. “Playing an offended liverwurst doesn’t sound very statesmanlike,” Melnyk told the German Press Agency. “It’s about the most brutal war of annihilation since the Nazi attack on Ukraine, it’s not a kindergarten.”
Scholz had said on ZDF on Monday evening that Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s unloading through Ukraine would stand in the way of his trip. Steinmeier actually wanted to go to Kyiv with the heads of state of Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in mid-April, but was rejected at short notice. Scholz said on ZDF: “It cannot work that a country that provides so much military aid, so much financial aid that is needed when it comes to the security guarantees that are needed for Ukraine in the future It’s important that you then say, the President can’t come.” Regarding the planned trip to Kyiv by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, Scholz said that he had informed him of his plans. “I have no objections.” He approves the trip.
Steinmeier’s planned visit fell through in mid-April because the Ukrainian side uninvited him. He wanted to go to Kyiv with the heads of state of Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, who eventually left without him. Steinmeier has been criticized for his previous Russia policy as foreign minister in Ukraine. In the meantime, he has admitted errors in the assessment of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and in his assessment of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, for example.
Melnyk continues to push for rapid arms deliveries
Scholz has meanwhile rejected the accusation of hesitation in supporting Ukraine in the defensive war against Russia. “I always decided quickly, along with everyone else, coordinated with the allies,” he said. “But my course is that we act prudently and with a clear mind.”
The government doesn’t make a PR-department-style decision – “still something on it or never anything”. Scholz emphasized that the financial and military aid provided by Germany and other countries has helped “that the Ukrainian army, which is really acting very successfully, can now hold out for so long against such an overpowering opponent”. The Ukrainian army will continue to be supported.
Melnyk said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would still be happy to receive Scholz in Kyiv. But he added: “What Ukraine would look forward to much more than any symbolic visits is that the traffic light government will swiftly implement the Bundestag’s proposal for the delivery of heavy weapons and fulfill the promises made so far.” He criticized that no ammunition had yet been found for the promised Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. The tanks are the first heavy weapons to be delivered directly from Germany to Ukraine.