Amid tensions between Berlin and Kyiv over Steinmeier’s refusal to invite FrankWalter Steinmeier, Volodymyr Zelensky says Berlin never suggested a possible visit by the German president to Kyiv. “I, as President, and my office have never received an official request from the President of the Republic and his office to visit Ukraine, the Ukrainian President told the press last night after receiving the Presidents of Poland, according to UNIAN news agency. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on a mission that Steinmeier also wanted to take part in. However, according to reports, his presence in Kyiv would not have been welcome.
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The diplomatic outrage triggered sharp reactions from Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other members of the federal government and the parties in Berlin. “The Federal President absolutely wanted to go to Ukraine and meet with President Selenskyj,” said Scholz, referring to the trip to Kyiv that Steinmeier should have made together with the Polish President and the three Baltic republics “He is the German head of state who He was reelected for his services with a large transversal majority. That’s another reason why it would have been positive if they had received it.” When asked by Radio Rbb24 whether he felt the stop in Kyiv was an insult, the chancellor replied sharply: “I don’t want to comment on it.