Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suddenly again fired a number of diplomats, including the Ambassador Ukraine for GermanAndriy Melnyk.
In addition to the Ukrainian representatives in Germany, Zelensky also fired representatives in India, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary. Currently, new candidates are being prepared for the position.
“This rotation is a normal part of diplomatic practice,” Zelensky said in a statement Reuters. The dismissal was announced suddenly.
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It is not clear whether those who are fired will get new positions or not.
Previously, Zelensky was known to have urged his diplomats to mobilize international support and military assistance for Ukraine. This was done to counter the Russian invasion which began last February.
Kyiv’s relationship with Germany itself is known to be quite ‘sensitive’. The relationship between the two relies heavily on the energy supplies of Russia and Europe’s largest economy.
Andriy Melnyk himself was appointed by Zelensky in 2014. His figure is well known among German politicians and diplomats.
Melnyk is also actively involved in social media. He once accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of behaving like an “offended sausage liver” when Scholz did not accept Zelensky’s invitation to visit Kyiv.
Kyiv and Berlin are also known to have clashed over a German-made turbine undergoing maintenance in Canada.
Germany wants Canada to return turbines to Russian natural gas giant Gazprom GAZP.MM to pump gas to Europe. However, Ukraine urged Canada to keep the turbines.
Ukraine said that returning the turbines would only violate sanctions against Moscow.
(asr)
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