Melnyk offers Chancellor Scholz an apology

By Paul Ronzheimer

The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, has offered Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64, SPD) an apology for calling him an “offended liverwurst”.

Melnyk said on Tuesday in the political talk “The Right Questions” on BILD TV that he had asked the Chancellery to speak to Scholz about his imminent departure from Germany.

And further: “If the chancellor would receive me before leaving, I would apologize to him.”

Melnyk had sharply criticized the chancellor at the time because Scholz had initially refused to travel to Kyiv himself after Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was disinvited from Ukraine.

In the BILD talk, the ambassador assessed the prospects of a personal meeting with the chancellor as uncertain: “Let’s see, I hope so.” “.

He admitted to being offended by his appearance. But: “My main wish remains and is to strengthen relations with Germany, even if it didn’t always look like it.”

At the same time, Melnyk defended his criticism of the German government’s hesitancy, for example on the issue of arms deliveries: “Sometimes at least I had the impression that it was necessary to raise our voices and perhaps also to criticize. Without that, I think German society, including the German public, might not have fully understood the seriousness of the moment.”

The ambassador, who was recalled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in early July, emphasized in the interview that he and his family loved Germany and its culture: “It’s difficult for us to say goodbye.” The position in Berlin was a conscious decision, “it was a dream job from me”.

After his return to Kyiv, Melnyk will continue to work in his country’s diplomatic service. “I am preparing to remain in the diplomatic service and also to fight for Ukraine,” the ambassador said. He did not want to comment on reports that he would become deputy foreign minister. The government must decide on this – “and that’s why I don’t want to speculate just yet”.

When asked if, like Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, he was ready to fight with guns in his hands, Melnyk said: “I’m an officer in the reserve.”

He didn’t serve, but “that’s something that can happen to every man and also to many women.” He would therefore be happy if he could do weapon training after returning home: “Because um to fight you have to really know how to use the weapon.”

Melnyk was self-critical in relation to his understanding of the Ukrainian nationalist and Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera, which he expressed in an interview. “I regret that this interview – and then all the comments – caused a wave of indignation. And that many people – whether in Poland or Israel, also in Germany – had their feelings hurt.”

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Melnyk: “I definitely regret that, because it wasn’t my intention to offend people.”

Melnyks also assumes that his statements would have led, among other things, to his having to give up his post as ambassador in Berlin.

“I believe that these statements may also have played a role. I don’t know, I can only guess. And that’s why, it also shows that for some topics – especially those that are closely linked to history – historians should take the floor – and not politicians,” admitted Melnyk.

“How it ends is in God’s hands”

According to its ambassador Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine is hoping for the delivery of US precision drones, such as those used in the killing of al-Qaeda leader Al Zawahiri in Kabul.

“Many Ukrainians would wish that the cause of this war was that he was no longer able to continue this war. How it ends is in God’s hands, but it is important to us that these precision weapons that we saw being used in Kabul, that we Ukrainians also need these weapons. Because this is the only way to show the Russians that they have nothing more to gain,” said Melnyk.

However, the Americans are not a party to the war and do not want to become one. That means: “This instrument should be in Ukrainian hands.” That’s why one hopes “that the Americans will equip us with similar weapons”. Then it will show “what the Ukrainian army can do.”

“We need these weapon systems right now”

The ambassador expressed concern that the war could last for months. But for him there is no doubt: “Ukraine will definitely win.” The only question is what price one has to pay for it. “And this price also depends on whether the federal government, but also other western partners, support us right now in this critical phase.”

Melnyk made it clear again that from Ukraine’s point of view the delivery of heavy weapons to the Chancellery would be delayed. It is also incomprehensible that Germany makes the decision on the delivery of battle tanks dependent on the USA having previously delivered Abrams tanks.

And you don’t understand why Germany is making the Gepard anti-aircraft tank available to Ukraine, but not Leopard I and II main battle tanks or the Fuchs armored personnel carrier. “Right now we need these weapon systems for the offensive in the south to liberate Cherson.”

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