Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk expects the next German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to quickly deliver the Taurus rockets to his country. “Ultimately, it’s also about credibility” Melnyk said to the “Spiegel”. “With a quick decision on Taurus delivery, Friedrich Merz can regain the trust in Germany lost during the Scholz era. He would secure recognition as a central player in this geopolitical power game and win the respect of Trump and Putin.” It would be a disaster if the new Chancellor instead continued the “unfortunate zigzag course of his predecessor” Melnyk added.
Melnyk welcomed the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Pope’s funeral in Rome. “We are relieved that a confidential dialogue between the two heads of state has been restored. President Trump listened attentively and drew important conclusions. Hopefully, Putin will now receive more stick than sugar to stop this war” Melnyk said.
His country will “never” recognize the de facto occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia as a violation of international law. “I fear that we are only at the beginning of a long negotiation process. We are doomed to create a diplomatic masterpiece” he added.
Melnyk served as Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany from 2015 to 2022. Since summer 2023, he is Ukraine’s Ambassador to Brazil, but he will soon switch with his family as a UN Ambassador of his country to New York. “On May 27, we will open a new chapter in our lives in the USA. We are very excited about this challenge in the diplomatic capital of the world” he said.
Melnyk, who criticized Germany’s perceived reluctance to provide weapons to Ukraine while in Berlin, does not plan to change his style at the UN. “I stand for offensive diplomacy and clear cut. My fellow citizens can rely on the fact that the voice of Ukraine will also be heard unambiguously in the United Nations” he said.