Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Kiev’s ambassador to Germany on Saturday as well as several other top foreign envoys, the presidential website reported. In a decree that gave no reason for the move, he announced the dismissal of Ukraine’s ambassadors to Germany, India, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary. It was not immediately clear whether the envoys would receive new jobs. Zelensky urged his diplomats to rally international support and military aid for Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia’s February 24 invasion. Kiev’s relations with Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies and also Europe’s largest economy, have been a particularly sensitive issue. The two capitals are currently at loggerheads over a German-made turbine undergoing maintenance in Canada. Germany wants Ottawa to return the turbine to Russian gas giant Gazprom to pump gas to Europe. Kyiv has urged Canada to keep the turbine, saying sending it to Russia would be a violation of sanctions imposed on Moscow.
title: “Zelensky Fires Ukraine S Envoy To Germany Other Ambassadors " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Patricia Powell”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that he had fired several of Kiev’s top envoys abroad, including the country’s outspoken ambassador to Germany. Zelensky announced the dismissal of Ukraine’s ambassadors to Germany, India, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary and said that new candidates were being prepared for the posts. “This rotation is a normal part of diplomatic practice,” he said in a statement. It was unclear whether the envoys would receive new positions. Zelensky urged his diplomats to rally international support and military aid for Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia’s February 24 invasion. Kiev’s relations with Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies and also Europe’s largest economy, are particularly sensitive. Andriy Melnyk, who was appointed by Zelensky’s predecessor as ambassador to Germany in late 2014, is well known among politicians and diplomats in Berlin. The 46-year-old regularly engages in candid exchanges on social media and has labeled politicians and intellectuals opposed to equipping Ukraine to fight Russian aggression as appeasement. He once accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of behaving like an “offended liver sausage” when Scholz did not immediately accept Zelensky’s invitation to visit Kyiv. Kyiv and Berlin are currently at loggerheads over a German-made turbine undergoing maintenance in Canada. Germany wants Ottawa to return the turbine to Russian gas giant Gazprom to pump gas to Europe, but Kyiv has urged Canada to keep the turbine, saying a return would violate sanctions on Moscow. Canada said Saturday it would return the turbine.
