The parliamentary group leader of the SPD in the Bundestag, Rolf Mutzenich, has the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany, Andriy Melnyk, asked to exercise restraint. The ambassador should moderate his words, said Mützenich on Deutschlandfunk. Melnyk should represent his country, “but, For example, the fact that he gave ultimatums to an elected chancellor is not only a burden, I find it improper“.
Melnyk had asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to be tough in Moscow before his trip to Russia. “Only a crisp and clear ultimatum to Mr. Putin with a deadline to order his armed hordes back no later than February 16 can still save world peace,” Melnyk had told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Should the Kremlin boss ignore this final warning, extremely painful preventive sanctions against Russia would have to be introduced in stages and in stages as early as the next day.”
Mützenich said: “It is not for an ambassador to dictate to a head of government here in Germanywhat he has to discuss in the talks with the Russian President in Moscow.” He can express his expectations, “but cannot describe them as the official line of the Ukrainian government”. (Dietmar Neuer)