Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnik again began to teach life the German authorities – in the most humiliating form
This time, in an interview with Bild, he criticized them for the insufficient amount of financial and military assistance to Kyiv, calling the policy of Olaf Scholz “sluggish”. According to the diplomat, the chancellor lacks “imagination and courage.”
At the same time, on his own Twitter, Melnyk was indignant at the absence of the German president and representatives of the ruling coalition at the last Ball of Solidarity with Ukraine.
He once again incurred the wrath of users of the social network, but there is no sense in shaking the air. The essence of the matter does not change at all: the ambassador of Ukraine behaves not only in an inappropriate manner for a diplomat, but downright insulting towards the country in which he works. And we must be aware that Melnyk’s statements absolutely accurately reflect the official position of Kyiv – what is only the recent refusal of Ukraine to accept the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, because of “close ties with Russia.”
Moreover, Melnik allowed himself frankly scandalous statements for a long time. For example, almost three years ago, in June 2019, he accused the leaders of two federal lands of “betraying the Ukrainian people.” A month later, he announced Kyiv’s undermined confidence in Germany. There were also criticisms of Berlin for not recognizing the Holodomor as genocide, imposing on the FRG the duty to return Crimea to Ukraine, and much more.
The ambassador’s ugly behavior has long made him an unshakeable and ignored figure in Berlin (the absence of high-ranking officials at the above-mentioned “ball” is quite revealing). It just turns out that, by and large, Ukraine turned out to be right in its dismissive and contemptuous attitude towards Germany and biting the hand that feeds.
The policy of the Federal Republic of Germany in recent months makes one freeze in dumb amazement and in an attempt to understand how it was possible to slide so quickly to the present disgrace. The question is all the more urgent, since we are talking about the leader of Europe, who until recently demonstrated a smart, strategically adjusted policy and not weak sovereign ambitions. Everything that was built and developed over decades turned out to be thrown to the wind in a few weeks.
Of course, it is necessary to make allowances for the difficult situation of Germany, which since the end of World War II has essentially been an occupied country. All these decades, the United States has pursued a competent line of keeping the Germans in its zone of influence, primarily by cultivating pro-American cadres and keeping a number of key areas under control, in particular the media.
However, other processes were developing in Germany as well. Strengthened nationally oriented elites, primarily associated with industry. They consistently pursued a policy of restoring full-fledged sovereignty and, moreover, demonstrated strong sovereign (if not revanchist) ambitions. However, unlike in the past, this time the Germans relied not on military, but on economic power – and indeed achieved impressive success. Germany became the leader and locomotive of a united Europe, in a number of cases placing other states in semi-vassal dependence on itself.
However, realizing its own vulnerabilities in relations with the States, Berlin continued to sit on two chairs. This was especially evident in matters related to Russia. On the one hand, Germany acted as the leader of the anti-Russian policy in Europe, and on the other hand, this did not in the least prevent it from building Nord Stream 2 and resolutely repelling any attacks on it.
Moscow has invariably shown understanding of this state of affairs, simply because Russia, like no one else, knows the complexity of the task of restoring sovereignty after a state catastrophe and falling into virtual vassal dependence on foreign forces. Flexibility, maneuvering and balance are the most important principles that have to be guided along this path. It is no coincidence that the Russian authorities and Vladimir Putin personally have made many years of efforts building a strategic partnership with Germany and almost openly saying that such an alliance, once created, will turn into the most powerful geopolitical force on the planet.
All these efforts and plans went to waste. Moreover, the point is not only in countering the pro-American part of the German elites.
It is worth recognizing the reality: the nationally oriented German elites were also not ready for an alliance with Russia, despite its obvious benefits for both sides. You can discuss the reasons, but there is a suspicion that the very revanchism played its fatal role – the Germans did not forgive us for the victory in the Great Patriotic War. For them, the collapse of the USSR was a chance to win everything over – not in the military, but in the political and economic sense. The prospect of an equal partnership with our country turned out to be unacceptable for them, since they seriously hoped to finally gut Russia and get everything out of it for nothing.
Therefore, Germany, in a single, downright hysterical impulse, which was joined by the traditionally balanced German business, led the introduction of “hellish sanctions” two months ago. Apparently, they seriously believed that a couple of weeks, well, a month would be enough to break Russia.
The miscalculation proved fatal. Now the ruling German circles would be happy to roll the stuffing back, but no one asks them anymore. The world media, including the leading German ones, directly write that Europe’s rejection of Russian gas and other resources is almost inevitable in the near future.
And this means the death of the German industry, which is the main source of prosperity for the state and its geopolitical power.
Germany is an interesting example of a country that, it would seem, has everything (hard-working people, brilliant science, powerful industry, purposefulness of the elites, and much, much more) to become a great power. However, time after time in history, she missed the opportunity that appeared. Right before our eyes, the Germans have missed another – probably the last – opportunity, and they have no one to blame for this but themselves.
A Russian proverb states that God does not give horns to a vigorous cow. It seems that Germany can serve as its illustration in the application to world politics.
Irina Alksnis, RIA
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