Mending tensions? Zelensky invites Scholz to visit Kiev on May 9
2 Min Read
Ukraine puts forward an initiative to mend ties with Germany.
-
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 14, 2022 (Reuters)
After recent diplomatic scandals between the two countries, Volodymyr Zelensky invited German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to visit Kiev on May 9 Victory Day.
"Speaking of Olaf Scholz… he is invited to come to Ukraine. He can make this very powerful political step to come here on the ninth of May, to Kiev. I am not explaining the significance, I think you are cultured enough to understand why," Zelensky said at an online event held by Chatham House, a British think tank.
According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian President extended this invite to the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a phone conversation on May 5.
Zelensky spoke to Steinmeier after a series of political and diplomatic blunders, particularly after Ukraine blocked Steinmeier from visiting Ukraine due to his ties with Russia.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, called Olaf Scholz an "offended liver sausage," which is a German idiom for someone who sulks for no reason.
'Olaf Scholz is not sausage': German lawmaker
Some Berlin officials have stood up for Chancellor Olaf Scholz after he was insulted by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, who called Scholz an "offended liver sausage."
Bundestag MP Sevim Dagdalen demanded the ambassador's expulsion from Germany, saying, "Whoever doesn’t expel the supporter of Nazism Melnyk now has lost all self-respect."
The Vice President of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Wolfgang Kubicki, also supported Scholz, saying Melnyk needs to respect Scholz's status as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Also, the deputy chairman of the Bundestag's CDU faction, Johann Wadeful, called Melnyk's statement "inappropriate and unreasonable."
"Even in such a difficult situation, diplomatic representatives should behave appropriately towards German officials. Melnyk's statements do not help Ukraine," he stressed.
