The former Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, has dismissed the ongoing discussions regarding the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as a “sham debate.
Speaking to “Stern”, Melnyk questioned the seriousness of proposals to send troops, stating that without a clear understanding of their mandate and purpose, no German politician could credibly suggest sending thousands of soldiers. He indicated that he could envision the participation of European forces only if security guarantees were formalized through a contractual agreement.
Melnyk also expressed a cautiously optimistic view on the resumption of conversations regarding the termination of the conflict facilitated by Donald Trump, describing the process as akin to a “rollercoaster”. He recalled an earlier call, made publicly to then-Chancellor Scholz last September, urging him to initiate diplomatic mediation in order to be recognized by Putin as a serious negotiating partner, a course of action he believes Trump is now pursuing. He noted, however, that no action followed his initial appeal.
Currently serving as Ukraine’s representative to the United Nations, Melnyk has urged Western partners to exert political pressure on other nations as well. Drawing on his experiences as ambassador to Brazil, he suggested leveraging economic influence. “The majority of foreign investments, over 450 billion euros, originate from the EU” he observed, “but this lever isn’t used to dissuade Brazil from its troubling alliance with Russia. Geopolitically, it’s a massive error”. Many states in Latin America and Africa, he added, look to Brazil’s actions, particularly its voting record in the UN on Ukraine resolutions, as a benchmark.