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Meanwhile ambassador to Brazil: Andrij Melnyk
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
In the dispute over the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, SPD politician Rolf Mützenich is criticized after a provocative statement about the end of the war.
Now Kiev's ex-ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk reacts with sharp words: "I always said: This guy was and remains the most disgusting German politician.
Forever and ever,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), referring to Mützenich.
The SPD parliamentary group leader said in the Bundestag on Friday: "Isn't it time that we not only talk about how to fight a war, but also think about how we can freeze a war and end it later?" He defended In addition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's line not to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev: "Turning times are not for political players.
What is needed is understanding, prudence and clarity.
And the Federal Chancellor does this in the consideration that he has as head of government," said Mützenich in a debate on a new proposal from the Union, in which the federal government is called on to "immediately" hand over this far-reaching weapons system to Ukraine.
On Friday, Mützenich defended his comments.
»As is so often the case, sentences are deliberately reinterpreted and scandalized.
Russia must not win this war.
The state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is our clear goal," Mützenich told the Rheinische Post.
In his speech, he clearly spoke out in favor of supporting Ukraine - including with weapons and ammunition.
He also suggested thinking not only about military aid, but also about the conditions for a possible end to the war.
He is in no way advocating the abandonment of the territories in the east of Ukraine and Crimea that were occupied in violation of international law.
"Only the Ukrainian government can decide on a ceasefire and a freeze in fighting."
Röttgen speaks of an “unbelievable proposal”
The reaction to Mützenich's speech is not the first time that Melnyk has become very sharp rhetorically.
After Scholz decided not to travel to Kiev in May 2022, Federal President Steinmeier was disinvited by the Ukrainian government shortly before a planned visit to Kiev.
Melnyk then said that the SPD Chancellor was “playing an offended liverwurst.”
He later said he wanted to apologize to Scholz for the statement.
Melnyk now works as Ukraine's ambassador to Brazil.
Mützenich's speech also received strong criticism in Germany.
Union foreign affairs expert Norbert Röttgen (CDU) wrote on X that it was an “unbelievable proposal.”
»In order to free Europe from the “chain of war”, Mützenich wants to freeze the war.
“The SPD is thus abandoning its goal of bringing Putin’s war to failure,” Röttgen added.
Criticism also from traffic light politicians
Green Party leader Ricarda Lang told Welt TV that Mützenich's speech was a "relapse into the Social Democrats' old Russia policy."
She actually assumed that the SPD had moved away from its "often naive appeasement policy towards Russia."
Now the SPD must “first clarify for itself what its line actually is.”
»It is clear that freezing this conflict would ultimately lead to incredible suffering for the many people in these occupied territories.
And it’s also clear to me: I’m committed to more support for Ukraine because I want peace,” Lang added.
"A world in which Putin wins in Ukraine is a world where he and other authoritarian dictators learn that they can push boundaries and get away with it."
The Green politician also called for the traffic lights to stay the course in Ukraine policy: “We should stay on a clear course.
Don't hesitate, don't hesitate.
Prudent, that's clear.
But prudence in this situation means understanding that a Putin would win this war, which would encourage him to attack other countries if necessary.
Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) also sharply criticized Mützenich because he had previously brought into play consequences for MPs who would vote for the Union proposal for the Taurus delivery.
“I call on everyone involved to refrain from making such unconstitutional demands now and for the future,” wrote Kubicki in a personal statement about his voting behavior.
In addition to the Union, Kubicki and the chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (also FDP), also approved the Union proposal.
Both had previously announced their decision.
Editor's note: In an earlier version, Wolfgang Kubicki was referred to as President of the Bundestag. In fact, he is the Vice President of the Bundestag. We corrected the mistake.
col/dpa