After the upset of the last few weeks, the Ukrainian foreign minister sends conciliatory messages in Berlin. But the Ukraine is not yet completely satisfied with the German support.
In the past few days and weeks, one could well come up with the idea that Andriy Melnyk must be the spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign policy concerns.
Sometimes hearty, but always clear, he took a position on German action in the conflict with Russia, , demanded for his country, was irritated by Olaf Scholz because the Chancellor did not want to travel to Kyiv. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin had, well, many messages to the Federal Republic. It was not uncommon for it to involve sensitive needle pricks.
In fact, Dmytro Kuleba is, by virtue of his position, his country’s top diplomat. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister was in Berlin on Thursday for the first time since the beginning of the war. He also had all sorts of messages in his luggage, the first one he sent in the morning: “Thank you to all German people”, . yikes
Praise for Scholz and the SPD…
Most recently, relations between Berlin and Kyiv were at least tense, and even had to be cleared up after the Ukrainian government’s uninviting of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier caused an uproar (and a scholz).
But there was not much evidence of those upsets on Thursday, Kuleba should stick to his primarily friendly tone, apparently in an effort to settle the dispute with Berlin or at least to smooth things out noticeably. If Ambassador Melnyk shows a clear tough edge, then the Foreign Minister showed a soft edge on Thursday.
After a conversation with SPD leaders, Kuleba even found words of praise for the Social Democrats, who had received harsh criticism for their Russia policy in recent decades. “The pre-war history of German-Russian relations and the role of the Social Democrats in that is something that is now history,” said Kuleba. He welcomed the chancellor’s U-turn on German arms deliveries and showed understanding that “it’s not easy to make decisions like this.” He sees the fact that Scholz did this with the support of his party as a sign of strength.
Kuleba also tried to defuse Ukrainian criticism of Germany’s hesitant attitude towards arms deliveries and sanctions against Russia. “We are seeing a positive dynamic,” said the Foreign Minister, thanking the traffic light coalition for the “U-turn” and “that it is moving forward.” Now, however, the right decisions must be made.
This message also stuck: a lot may be forgiven, but not forgotten. On the first of his four-day visit to Germany, Kuleba also formulated Ukraine’s expectations of the Federal Republic.
… but also expectations of Germany
So he complained in an interview that the promised by Germany cheetah-Anti-aircraft tanks were not requested by his country. “The decisive factor for the federal government seems to have been to give us something that they don’t need themselves,” he said. Also the delivery of seven German 2000 self-propelled howitzers – heavy, modern artillery pieces – Kuleba criticized as insufficient. “Let’s forget the Soviet systems, that’s over,” the foreign minister said, and called for western-style fighter jets and missile defense systems.
In another interview, he expressed the expectation that Germany, as “one of the leading countries in Europe”, would take a leading role in the “most critical issues”. Ultimately, according to Kuleba, that is the explanation for Kiev’s harsh criticism of the Federal Republic: It is “frustrating” when Germany does not play this role. The foreign minister made it clear where he felt Germany needed to be asked: “I believe, and we in Ukraine believe, that there are three critical points where a leadership role is actually needed. Arms deliveries, sanctions against Russia and EU candidate status.”
In doing so, the Ukraine wants to hold Germany accountable, particularly as its country’s companion in the EU. “The European Union needs Ukraine just as Ukraine needs the European Union”, . He hopes that the Social Democrats will support the candidate.
A few hours later he emphasized again to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, how important candidate status and accession prospects are for his country. . The Foreign Minister presented the last words of invitation from Germany as a “test, rehearsal” to show how seriously they were ultimately meant. “If Ukraine doesn’t get candidate status, Ukraine’s hopes will be killed,” Kuleba said.
Anything else? Oh yes, Kuleba also had a message ready for Chancellor Scholz: “He is always welcome, at any time that suits him,” said the Foreign Minister and invited him to Kyiv. Even if a lot was clarified this Thursday, the question of the Chancellor’s visit to Ukraine remains open. Apparently there are no such plans in the Chancellery for the next few weeks, reported the , the Federal President “has not yet made any concrete travel plans for me in the very short term”.
A friendly welcome would obviously be certain for both of them. Asked about the warm hug with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who was the first member of the government to travel to Kyiv, Kuleba said: “I am ready to hug every German politician who helps Ukraine.”
Source: Stern
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