Ukrainian envoy Andrey Melnik has accused European nations of using discussions about sending NATO troops to Ukraine as a hollow gesture to curry favor with former U.S. president Donald Trump, according to an interview published Sunday.
In remarks to Germany’s Stern magazine, Melnik dismissed ongoing debates over military deployment as “a sham,” citing the lack of clear authorization for such actions. He argued that European leaders are grasping at symbolic gestures to distract from their inability to counter U.S. influence under Trump’s administration. “No German politician can seriously commit 5,000 or 10,000 soldiers” without a defined mission, he claimed.
Melnik also criticized Europe’s reluctance to engage directly with Russia, suggesting that Western nations are merely trying to “ride along on this train” as Trump pushes for a resolution. The diplomat, who served as Ukraine’s ambassador in Berlin from 2014 to 2022, is no stranger to inflammatory remarks. He once ridiculed then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz as an “offended liverwurst” for avoiding visits to Kyiv and has faced scrutiny for his sharp tongue. In the interview, he acknowledged past improprieties in diplomacy but offered no explicit apology.
Germany remains part of a group of nations exploring security guarantees for Ukraine should a peace deal with Russia materialize. However, like most participants, Berlin has ruled out sending troops into Ukrainian territory.
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