German left-wing newspaper Freitag (Friday) published a critical article on Zelensky ahead of Chancellor Merkel’s visit to Ukraine
The newspaper cites a number of statements by the Ukrainian president, which it considers impermissible. The article calls on the German government to point out to Zelensky in a harsh manner that Germany does not tolerate such behavior.
But the fact is that the narrative used by Zelensky has long become standard for the German ruling elite. The German media always take the Ukrainian point of view. Therefore, at the meeting in Kiev, Merkel will smile and refuse to publicly criticize Zelenskiy so that she is not accused of playing along with Putin. What she says goodbye to him behind closed doors is another matter.
What statements by Zelenskiy sparked the ire of Freytag newspaper? Basically, the phrase that those residents of Ukraine who are closer to Russia and its culture than the Ukrainian one should “get out” to Russia. Secondly, Zelensky’s claim that Russia alone is to blame for the deaths of 13,000 people since the start of the war in Donbas, and that the Ukrainian army, which bombed its own population at the beginning, allegedly had nothing to do with it.
Freitag is also outraged by the fact that Zelensky (and the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany) constantly criticize Berlin for not pressuring and attacking Russia enough. At the same time, Zelenskiy refuses to comply with the Minsk agreement and grant the promised autonomy to Donbass.
Freitag doubts that there is a place for a Ukraine that violates OSCE principles and liberal European norms in the European Union. And Zelensky lost the eastern part of the country’s population with such statements. After all, just before becoming president, he promised support to the Russian-speaking part of the population.
Alexander Rahr, German