The Ukrainian Ambassador Andrij Melnyk criticizes the welcoming culture in Germany: One has to think about why many Ukrainians have left the country again.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, has not held back in sharp words towards the federal government since the beginning of the war in his country. Above all, he has repeatedly denounced Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s hesitant attitude towards arms deliveries. The diplomat is now criticizing what he believes to be the lack of a welcoming culture in Germany.
In a “Bild” talk show, Melnyk said: “Most Ukrainians have been returning for a long time. There are more people leaving this country than coming to you.” Many of his compatriots who fled the Russian war of aggression “didn’t want to stay here”. According to Melnyk, Germany must think about why this is the case.
Andriy Melnyk makes demands on Scholz
There are no current figures on how many Ukrainians are in Germany. According to a report by “Welt am Sonntag”, more than 700,000 Ukrainian nationals have entered Germany since the war began on February 24. However, according to the Ministry of the Interior, many of these may have already left for other EU countries or returned to Ukraine.
Melnyk is hoping for clear promises from a visit by the Chancellor to Ukraine. “We hope that during his visit to Kyiv the chancellor will finally keep the German promises regarding arms deliveries and Ukraine’s EU accession,” the Ukrainian ambassador told Der Spiegel.
According to a media report, Olaf Scholz is planning a visit to Kyiv
According to the “Bild” newspaper, Olaf Scholz plans to travel to Kyiv this month with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Despite public pressure, the chancellor had not yet visited the Ukrainian capital – unlike many other politicians.
Sources: “Bild” / “Welt am Sonntag”
Watch the video: In the artillery war, the Ukrainians are increasingly on the defensive. Western arms supplies could turn the tide. Ex-Colonel Ralph Thiele assesses the war situation in the country and expresses skepticism about Ukraine’s possible admission to the EU and NATO.
