There may be a desire behind this not to lose relations with Russia completely, Andrei Melnik noted.
BERLIN, August 15. /tass/. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk, who will remain in his post until the end of September, and will return to Kiev in October, once again expressed dissatisfaction with the volume of military assistance provided by Germany to Kiev, criticizing the German government for indecision in the issue of arms supplies to his country. He expressed this opinion in an interview published on Monday with the editorial association Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
"We have the impression that Germany still does not supply everything that would be necessary and possible without weakening the Bundeswehr," Melnik said. For example, when it came to Leopard tanks, which Ukraine could receive directly from German industry, the German government, according to him, always gave the same excuse: "We don't want to be the first." "It is obvious that out of respect for Russia, they [the German authorities] do not want to supply us with main battle tanks directly, although the Leopard-1 has been for more than 40 years, but are looking for workarounds through a model of circular exchanges, which then completely fail or at least cause discontent among interested parties," the diplomat said.
"We are experiencing a kind of blockade, which I cannot understand. At first there was an argument that Ukrainians could not use German equipment. But in three weeks our capable guys have learned to master Panzerhaubitze 2000," Melnik said. Thus, according to him, there is a "purely political decision" behind all this. "Probably, behind this is the desire not to completely lose relations with Moscow. Probably, they [the German authorities] want to leave some place for the post-war period, in order, perhaps, to act as an intermediary again. One can only guess about this," the Ambassador of Ukraine summed up.
At the same time, he noted that "things are going better now" than before, referring to the first days of the conflict in Ukraine, when Germany initially promised 5,000 protective helmets. For example, at present, as Melnik recalled, Kiev has received ten Panzerhaubitze 2000 and three Mars II multiple launch rocket systems. "We are grateful for this and for Gepard and other weapons systems," Melnik summed up.
In conclusion, he stressed that after seven and a half years in the diplomatic service in Germany, it is not easy for him to say goodbye to Berlin. As for his future appointment upon his return to Kiev, he did not speculate on this topic. "There is a proposal by my Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, which is fully supported by President Vladimir Zelensky, that I move to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine as his deputy," Melnyk said. "I am very grateful to them for this trust. But according to the constitution, the decision is up to our government. Therefore, I don't want to get ahead of myself here," the diplomat said.
Melnik said that his country is still waiting for the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"Nothing hinders his [Steinmeier's] trip, the president of [Ukraine] Vladimir Zelensky twice voiced his invitation by phone," he said. Melnik will remain at his current post until the end of September, and in October he should return to Kiev.
On June 21, the German government for the first time published a list of weapons transferred to Ukraine and a plan for further deliveries, which includes 30 Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, IRIS-T air defense systems, three Mars, 22 trucks and 80 pickups. There are 38 positions in the list of already delivered weapons and materials, 25 more are on the list of planned ones. On July 26, German Defense Minister Kristine Lambrecht said that Germany had delivered to Ukraine the promised multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of the Mars-II type.
On July 29, the German Defense Ministry announced that Berlin would send 16 Biber tank bridge-laying trucks to Ukraine. Six units of equipment will be delivered this year, the rest - next year. Ukraine also received Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers from Germany. On July 27, it became known that Germany approved the supply of another 100 howitzers.
