China can be a mediator in resolving the war, says Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Melnyk – Nauzal

“It’s not unrealistic,” Melnyk said in an interview with German media group Funke. “Of course, the Chinese follow their own interests. However, I believe that a fair peaceful solution and an end to the fighting are more in Beijing’s interest than this massive, endless earthquake for the entire world order,” added Melnyk, who during his diplomatic mission in Berlin sharply criticized the German government’s unwillingness to sufficiently help Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression.

Melnyk called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a “big step forward” to strengthen Kiev’s relations with Beijing and end Russian aggression.

Melnyk admitted that China’s position “of course” may differ from Ukraine’s. “For Kyiv, the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the occupied territories is a necessary condition. After all, the devil is in the details,” emphasized Melnyk, who was among several ambassadors dismissed by Zelenskyi without reason last summer.

Czech President Petr Pavel does not share Melnyk’s opinion, who recently said in an interview with the Brussels website Politico that peace in Ukraine is not in China’s interest at the moment, because the war allows it to force Russia to make concessions. According to him, Beijing only pursues its own interests in connection with the conflict and learns lessons from the development “every day”.

Melnyk became famous in Germany for several undiplomatic statements. For example, he called Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “insulted moron” and rescinded his invitation to Kyiv to Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, who proposed a “freeze” of the war in Ukraine.

Melnyk blames his successor in Berlin, Oleksiy Makeev, for inconsistency in demanding German military aid to Ukraine. “Our offensive is approaching, and the Germans think that when they have delivered us 18 Leopard tanks, they are done and finished. As if the war could be won with these tanks,” said Melnyk in an interview with the weekly newspaper Die Zeit, who is also accused by critics of downplaying the crimes of Stepan Bandera.