Andriy Melnyk, the designated Ukrainian UN ambassador, has rejected reports that he is behind the recall of his successor in Berlin, Oleksii Makeiev. “I reject these speculations. While I do stand by the objective criticism I expressed in the past, I was not involved in the decision-making process of the ambassador rotation at any point in time” Melnyk told the Funke Media Group’s Sunday editions.
“I never spoke with the President or the old or new Foreign Minister about my successor in Germany. Nobody sought my advice in this matter. It was therefore to be read that I was accused of intriguing against Makeiev. This is a pure conspiracy theory” Melnyk said.
According to media reports, Makeiev is to be withdrawn as part of a large ambassador rotation in Berlin. He has been the Ukrainian ambassador in the German capital since October 2022. Ukrainian media had written that Melnyk’s criticism of what he saw as Makeiev’s too cautious appearance had influenced the latter’s recall.