As Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk doesn't give a damn about diplomatic sensitivity, even after his dismissal. Now he's letting his anger run wild again: on Twitter he violently insulted Saxony's head of state Kretschmer after the CDU politician called for a dialogue with Russia.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, reacted with sharp criticism to statements by the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, according to which Germany had to play a mediating role in Russia's war against Ukraine. "We have to work to ensure that this war is frozen," Kretschmer said on Tuesday. Melnyk replied to Kretschmer on Twitter: "The Ukrainians advocate sticking your head in a freezer to freeze your hot Russia fantasies. Your constant pandering to war criminal Putin is disgusting."
Kretschmer had said that Germany, together with France, the USA and other countries, could play a central role in resolving the conflict. However, that does not mean that Ukraine should give up territories, according to Kretschmer. Russia's war is an injustice and a crime. But one has to recognize that the war has plunged the entire world and Europe in particular into chaos. If it continues like this, there is a risk of losing the economic strength that is necessary to organize security and remain competitive.
Criticism of this view came not only from Melnyk. FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai also said "Bild" to Kretschmer's words: "Thank God this man is not responsible for our foreign policy." The Saxon head of government "apparently has not understood to this day how dangerous Russia is and how important support for Ukraine is". The Berlin CDU country chief Kai Wegner wrote on Twitter: "Like Michael Kretschmer, we all want peace, freedom and security in the world. But Michael Kretschmer also knows that this is not possible with the warmonger and war criminal Putin."
It is not the first time that Kretschmer has called for a dialogue with Russia. At the beginning of July, he told the magazine "Spiegel" that in order to end Russia's "barbaric war of aggression, which violates international law" as quickly as possible, attempts to talk to the Kremlin are indispensable - "on their own strength and with clear messages". Germany and the West also need a long-term Russia strategy. At that point, Bijan Djir-Sarai had agreed that it was "right and important" to "keep such channels open" - even if you didn't like the person you were talking to.
