Andrij Melnyk, the former Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, has called upon European nations to exert stronger diplomatic pressure on Russia. Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel”, Melnyk stated that Europe must use its entire geopolitical weight at the negotiating table to end the war as quickly as possible.
The permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations reminded readers that he had previously urged Germany and other European states in early 2024 to explore diplomatic initiatives aimed at compelling Putin toward a peace negotiation. However, Melnyk noted that this initial push was rejected at the time, resulting in a wasted amount of time.
Now, more than four years after Russia invaded Ukraine, he is renewing his demand. He asserted that it is not yet too late for the EU, alongside partners like the United Kingdom and Norway, to take on a central mediation role. This, he argued, would help steer Russia off the path of war and usher in a just and lasting peace.
Just days before, former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had publicly expressed regret that Europe had not done enough to pursue diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine conflict. While Merkel herself has recently been floated as a possible mediator between Ukraine and Russia, Melnyk offered a pragmatic assessment of the role. He acknowledged that deciding who should conduct direct talks with Putin on behalf of all Europeans is not a simple matter. Nevertheless, he strongly advocated for an active political figure to serve as a mediator, insisting that it must be a robust head of state or government. Melnyk called for this individual to be equipped with a strong EU mandate, explicitly excluding former politicians like Merkel: “I do not believe that former politicians like Angela Merkel can master this task”.
