What if Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not in Kyiv but in Berlin and was responsible for the German people?
He would certainly "perform" much better in public than Olaf Scholz.
But what would he say if the head of state of his country were invited to a solidarity visit by the president of a country in need of help?
And if the ambassador of this state regularly insulted not only him?
Not only a Selenskyj would find clear words for this.
So too, quite late, Olaf Scholz.
Federal President Steinmeier represents Germany externally.
He is also a representative of a false Russia policy, the damage of which can be seen today.
But apart from the fact that Steinmeier has admitted mistakes: In the face of the Russian war of aggression, he leaves no doubt that Germany is on the side of Ukraine.
Certain forms are also cultivated in war
One can argue about procrastination and glitches.
But there is no reason to openly offend the central power of Europe, which supports Ukraine and its (refugee) citizens with weapons, billions of euros and thousands of helpers.
There is nothing to be said against overdrawing Zelensky, who spoke so impressively to the European parliaments.
But even that follows a form.
And states continue to cultivate certain forms even in conflict.
This form breaks the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany.
The ambassador does not make things any easier for his threatened homeland with personal disparagements of statesmen in his host country, whose serious commitment to Ukraine cannot be denied.
He should know that there are also very own German interests to which Scholz and Steinmeier are primarily committed.
It is not surprising that some media worship a riot ambassador.
But respect for the views of others and decency in dealing with each other are part of our core values, which must be secured together.