The Ukrainian ambassador has repeatedly caused irritation with his statements. Most recently, he has come under a lot of pressure for his controversial statements about a former nationalist leader.

According to media reports, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, is to be recalled and transferred to the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv.

The “Bild” newspaper, citing several sources in Kyiv, reported that the Foreign Ministry had proposed this to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The 46-year-old could still change in the fall. Melnyk could become deputy foreign minister, the newspaper wrote.

The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” also reported, citing circles of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, that Melnyk should leave his post in Berlin and move to the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv.

Mighty under pressure

Melnyk is known in Germany for his sharp criticism of the government’s Ukraine policy. Most recently, he came under pressure with controversial statements about the former nationalist leader Stepan Bandera (1909-1959). Melnyk defended Bandera in an interview and said: “Bandera was not a mass murderer of Jews and Poles.” There is no evidence for that.

Sharp criticism of the statements came from Poland and the Israeli embassy in Berlin, among others. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said Melnyk had stated his personal position, which was not the ministry’s position.

The government in Kyiv and Melnyk itself initially did not respond to inquiries from the German Press Agency about the media reports.