Failed visit to Kyiv
Confusion about Steinmeier’s unloading
The canceled trip by Federal President Steinmeier caused outrage – and now also confusion. Ukraine denies having uninvited President Steinmeier. There was no request at all, says President Selenskyj.
There are conflicting reports about the failed visit of Federal President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier to Kyiv. Already in the afternoon, an adviser to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that no offer of a visit from Steinmeier had been turned down. In the evening Zelenskyy himself stated that Steinmeier or his office had not sent any official request to Ukraine, reports the Reuters news agency.
However: It seems certain that Steinmeier was not wanted in Kiev – the German ambassador in Kyiv was given this in writing by the Ukrainian presidential administration, reports the head of the ARD capital city studio, Tina Hassel. Accordingly, the statements from Ukraine could be an attempt at diplomatic damage limitation.
Scholz “irritated”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously criticized Ukraine’s uninviting of Steinmeier as “somewhat irritating”. “The Federal President would have liked to go to Ukraine,” said Scholz. It would have been good to receive the Federal President. The SPD politician left open the question of whether he himself would accept the invitation to Kyiv in an interview with the rbb24 info radio. He is in close contact with the Ukrainian President Zelenskyj, said Scholz. He was also in Kyiv shortly before the war broke out. Originally there was a joint solidarity visit with the heads of state from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The four other politicians then traveled to Kyiv without Steinmeier.
Baerbock: Full solidarity
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also regretted that Steinmeier was not traveling to Kyiv. “We talked about this trip together and I would have thought it would make sense,” said the Green politician on the sidelines of a visit to the Malian capital of Bamako. Nevertheless, Baerbock emphasized: “It is clear: we are fully on the side of Ukraine. If we support Ukraine in its defense on the ground, we are in full solidarity.”
Something smells fishy here
Are they really confused? What else can Ukraine say? Admitting it would be another slap in the face but there is no doubt what they did.
Is it possible that Steinmeier was asking his old buddy Putin if he’d be welcomed in Kyiv and got confused about it?
Gotta say that was a really stupid move by Kiev.
But damn, really ashamed by my fellow Germans on how much fuss they make about this. Kiev has other shit to worry about right now, the problem still sits in Moscow
The best thing would be for both sides to forget that this thing happened and to continue and step up our cooperation. This whole situation is completely unnecessary and counterproductive.
mariupol is said to be beautiful these days. pack ursel and stoibers old croneys and roadtrip down there.
An unfortunate and unecessary diplomatic incident becomes … weird.
So Duda made the contacts, and he was told that Steinmeier is not welcomed. Since everything was handled via Duda, there might have indeed been no formal request from the offices of the German presidency.
But who was the person on the other side who received and rejected Duda’s inquiry? Why did they claim technical reasons first before stating that they don’t want to see Steinmeier because of his history with Ukraine as Germany’s foreign minister? Who wrote that statement? Did that person act without telling Zelesnkyy, or Zelenskyy know? Is he now afraid to admit it after he has learned that the people from who he hopes to get heavy weapons are a bit irritated to put it mildly?
Was Melnyk, the Ukranian ambassador to Germany, involved in any way? Is this another one of his stupid games? Since I’m running out out patience, I have no more hesitations to say this about Melnyk: That guy is a manipulative pain in the butt and an outright liar who is constantly snubbing the people who are working hard to get things for Ukraine and overcome Scholz’ resistance against heavy weapon delieveries.
Alright. So, whatever actually happened here was a faux pas in diplomacy. Was it a misunderstanding? Was it a mistake? Was it an overreaction? Whatever it was, it can be solved with a simple phone call, assuming that there is an interest to solve anything. Just stop playing stupid games and speak openly and honestly.
Like I said above the support for heavy weapon delieveries and harsher sanctions is strong Germany, even inside the government. The only blockers are Scholz and his wing of the Social Democrats. I happy to report that this episode hasn’t eased the pressure on Scholz, but I’m afraid that if the Ukranian government and Melnyk continue to play stupid games the mood of the people will change. Right now things have become harder because Scholz has no interest in visiting Kyiv for now, and the people behind feel emboldened in their resistannce
If the Ukranian government wants to increase pressure on Scholz, they should also not open their response with demands for who they would much rather want to see. Why not make a suggestion instead? They should invite Habeck, Baerbock and Steinmeier. Zelenskyy has talked about friends. Well, Habeck and Baerbock are some of the strongest friends that the Ukraine has in Europe, and Steinmeier at least wants to redeem himself (which might make him a valuable supporter). Inviting these three while ignoring Scholz will send a message and help to increase the pressure on Scholz.
Whatever happened – happened… its probably not that easy to keep a good grip on things when your nation’s very existance is at stake and you know that with every passing minute the bodies keep piling up, the rapes, murders and all other war crimes continue to add up.
No one is perfect, mistakes happen – its part of the human nature and tends to happen quite often when under heavy pressure.
But you know what else is part of the very best in human nature? Empathy, Solidarity, Unity!
Be more thoughtfull of Ukraine and what they have been going through for the past 50 days, embrace them and help them as much as you can. Show them your better side – they sure need it right now…
9 comments
Translation:
Failed visit to Kyiv
Confusion about Steinmeier’s unloading
The canceled trip by Federal President Steinmeier caused outrage – and now also confusion. Ukraine denies having uninvited President Steinmeier. There was no request at all, says President Selenskyj.
There are conflicting reports about the failed visit of Federal President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier to Kyiv. Already in the afternoon, an adviser to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that no offer of a visit from Steinmeier had been turned down. In the evening Zelenskyy himself stated that Steinmeier or his office had not sent any official request to Ukraine, reports the Reuters news agency.
However: It seems certain that Steinmeier was not wanted in Kiev – the German ambassador in Kyiv was given this in writing by the Ukrainian presidential administration, reports the head of the ARD capital city studio, Tina Hassel. Accordingly, the statements from Ukraine could be an attempt at diplomatic damage limitation.
Scholz “irritated”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously criticized Ukraine’s uninviting of Steinmeier as “somewhat irritating”. “The Federal President would have liked to go to Ukraine,” said Scholz. It would have been good to receive the Federal President. The SPD politician left open the question of whether he himself would accept the invitation to Kyiv in an interview with the rbb24 info radio. He is in close contact with the Ukrainian President Zelenskyj, said Scholz. He was also in Kyiv shortly before the war broke out. Originally there was a joint solidarity visit with the heads of state from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The four other politicians then traveled to Kyiv without Steinmeier.
Baerbock: Full solidarity
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also regretted that Steinmeier was not traveling to Kyiv. “We talked about this trip together and I would have thought it would make sense,” said the Green politician on the sidelines of a visit to the Malian capital of Bamako. Nevertheless, Baerbock emphasized: “It is clear: we are fully on the side of Ukraine. If we support Ukraine in its defense on the ground, we are in full solidarity.”
Something smells fishy here
Are they really confused? What else can Ukraine say? Admitting it would be another slap in the face but there is no doubt what they did.
Is it possible that Steinmeier was asking his old buddy Putin if he’d be welcomed in Kyiv and got confused about it?
Gotta say that was a really stupid move by Kiev.
But damn, really ashamed by my fellow Germans on how much fuss they make about this. Kiev has other shit to worry about right now, the problem still sits in Moscow
The best thing would be for both sides to forget that this thing happened and to continue and step up our cooperation. This whole situation is completely unnecessary and counterproductive.
mariupol is said to be beautiful these days. pack ursel and stoibers old croneys and roadtrip down there.
An unfortunate and unecessary diplomatic incident becomes … weird.
So Duda made the contacts, and he was told that Steinmeier is not welcomed. Since everything was handled via Duda, there might have indeed been no formal request from the offices of the German presidency.
But who was the person on the other side who received and rejected Duda’s inquiry? Why did they claim technical reasons first before stating that they don’t want to see Steinmeier because of his history with Ukraine as Germany’s foreign minister? Who wrote that statement? Did that person act without telling Zelesnkyy, or Zelenskyy know? Is he now afraid to admit it after he has learned that the people from who he hopes to get heavy weapons are a bit irritated to put it mildly?
Was Melnyk, the Ukranian ambassador to Germany, involved in any way? Is this another one of his stupid games? Since I’m running out out patience, I have no more hesitations to say this about Melnyk: That guy is a manipulative pain in the butt and an outright liar who is constantly snubbing the people who are working hard to get things for Ukraine and overcome Scholz’ resistance against heavy weapon delieveries.
Alright. So, whatever actually happened here was a faux pas in diplomacy. Was it a misunderstanding? Was it a mistake? Was it an overreaction? Whatever it was, it can be solved with a simple phone call, assuming that there is an interest to solve anything. Just stop playing stupid games and speak openly and honestly.
Like I said above the support for heavy weapon delieveries and harsher sanctions is strong Germany, even inside the government. The only blockers are Scholz and his wing of the Social Democrats. I happy to report that this episode hasn’t eased the pressure on Scholz, but I’m afraid that if the Ukranian government and Melnyk continue to play stupid games the mood of the people will change. Right now things have become harder because Scholz has no interest in visiting Kyiv for now, and the people behind feel emboldened in their resistannce
If the Ukranian government wants to increase pressure on Scholz, they should also not open their response with demands for who they would much rather want to see. Why not make a suggestion instead? They should invite Habeck, Baerbock and Steinmeier. Zelenskyy has talked about friends. Well, Habeck and Baerbock are some of the strongest friends that the Ukraine has in Europe, and Steinmeier at least wants to redeem himself (which might make him a valuable supporter). Inviting these three while ignoring Scholz will send a message and help to increase the pressure on Scholz.
Whatever happened – happened… its probably not that easy to keep a good grip on things when your nation’s very existance is at stake and you know that with every passing minute the bodies keep piling up, the rapes, murders and all other war crimes continue to add up.
No one is perfect, mistakes happen – its part of the human nature and tends to happen quite often when under heavy pressure.
But you know what else is part of the very best in human nature? Empathy, Solidarity, Unity!
Be more thoughtfull of Ukraine and what they have been going through for the past 50 days, embrace them and help them as much as you can. Show them your better side – they sure need it right now…