Zelenskyj probably fires ambassador to Germany

Is there a predecessor behind it?

Zelenskyj probably fires ambassador to Germany

Another change at the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin? Oleksii Makeiev is set to leave, a successor has already been chosen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is said to be seeking a change of ambassador in Berlin. Oleksii Makeiev was transferred to Germany in September 2022 and will probably have to leave again soon. This is reported by both the “Bild” and the Ukrainian newspaper “European Truth”.

Makeiev succeeded the controversial ambassador Andrij Melnyk, who had repeatedly been criticized for criticizing the German federal government. The 49-year-old struck a more moderate tone, but also clearly represented Ukrainian positions on issues such as the desire for a delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles. He recently warned Germany not to draw red lines.

As “Bild” has learned from diplomatic circles, the change should be part of a normal rotation among the Ukrainian ambassadors. Andrij Melnyk was also recalled from Brasília, his place of employment after moving from Berlin, and transferred to the United Nations in New York.

But the “European Truth” sees other reasons. “Oleksii Makeiev will be recalled early from Germany to Kiev, which is a dubious move to say the least, but it is no secret who systematically criticized his work.” This apparently refers to Melnyk, who himself spoke from South America on the X platform in German. He didn’t hold back from criticizing his successor in interviews either.

The current Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, is due to move to Germany in February. According to “Bild” information, Kiev has already sent the necessary documents for the change of ambassador to the Foreign Office.

According to the newspaper report, Ukraine is planning a comprehensive replacement of ambassadorial positions worldwide. In total, the heads of around 40 diplomatic missions are to be replaced, including in important countries such as the USA, Canada, China, Germany and Japan.

However, some of the planned appointments have met with criticism. Concerns are being raised about the qualifications of certain candidates as some of them are considered inexperienced. In 2022, the former assistant to the former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Olga Nikitschen, moved to Lithuania, even though a new ambassador had just started there. According to the report, she is also said to be on good terms with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife.