Ukrainian ambassador’s ‘Mydri’ against Germany: Dependence on Russia shameful – They support us by force

Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin has accused the German government of backing “support” for Kyiv, saying his country had fallen victim to Germany’s “shameful” energy dependence on Russia.

“It’s not just Russian gas, it’s oil, coal, metals, diamonds and other raw materials. We (Ukraine) have become the biggest victims of this perverted relationship. The Ukrainians are paying with their lives for this failed German policy, “Andriy Melnik told Reuters on Friday.

His comments underscore the growing frustration in Kyiv with the government of German Chancellor Olaf Solz, who has pledged support for some sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but has set foot where experts believe it matters most. in the energy embargo: “This kind of hypocrisy with Russia dates back to Nord Stream 1,” Melnik said. “Germany’s huge dependence on Russia, at a time of worst aggression since World War II, is shameful.”

After the German government put on hold the controversial new gas pipeline from Russia, Nord Stream 2, after the invasion, there were calls, unnoticed in Berlin, to close Nord Stream 1, which has been supplying Russian gas to Germany since 2011. .

This week, the European Union agreed to further sanctions on Russia, including a carbon embargo, but that measure was eased by Germany. The EU Commission had initially proposed a phasing out within three months. That was extended to four months, sources familiar with the talks said, following pressure mainly from Germany, the main importer of Russian coal into the EU.

Solz said Germany would need four months to implement the ban.

“Germany is as far from giving us the support we need today as it was at the beginning of the war,” Melnik said. “More than 40 days later, the German political elite apparently still do not believe that Ukraine can win the war.”