The former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, has been appointed his country's deputy foreign minister. The government made this decision on Friday, Melnyk told the German Press Agency. However, his exact area of ​​responsibility has not yet been determined.

Melnyk thanked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the entire Ukrainian government for their trust. "It is a great honor and an enormous responsibility to serve my homeland in this new, very important position after more than 25 years of working in the diplomatic service." He is looking forward to the new task "hugely".

The government's representative in parliament, Taras Melnychuk, confirmed the cabinet's decision, according to Ukrainian media. Melnyk told the dpa that Kuleba would decide on his exact area of ​​responsibility in the next few days after further talks.

Connected to Germany

His tenure as Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany will always remain deep in his heart. "I would like to thank all the people in Germany who have given their full support to me and my family, but above all to Ukraine, in these difficult times. No matter what comes up in the future, I will remain very closely connected to Germany."

Melnyk was replaced in October after almost eight years as ambassador by the government's former sanctions commissioner, Oleksii Makeiev. He returned to Kyiv without knowing exactly which new post he will take on in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Melnyk had long been under discussion as deputy foreign minister.

The 47-year-old career diplomat became ambassador to Germany in January 2015 and made a name for himself with an unusually tough stance against the German government for a diplomat. In the period shortly before and after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, he called for more support for his country almost every day and was sharply criticized for his undiplomatic manner. Even after his departure, he continued to comment on German politics via Twitter.