photo: andrey melnik. source: wikipedia.
Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk proposed to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to form a tank alliance in Europe in order to arrange the earliest deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Kiev.
The ex-ambassador made such a statement in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday.
“Now we need to get everything that can be delivered quickly as soon as possible: Leopard 2 and Marder tanks, more artillery and ammunition,” Melnik said.
He called these weapons a “top priority.”
He also said: “We are asking German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to form a European tank alliance.”
Melnik said that in 10 countries there are Leopard 2 tanks in the amount of two thousand units.
“If each of these states transfers about 10% to Ukraine, we will be able to form an entire army of 200 or more tanks in order to liberate the occupied territories faster,” the former German ambassador said.
Kiev, he said, wants Germany to make long-term commitments to military support for Ukraine in the coming years, especially its Air Force and Navy – “because German ships, corvettes, frigates and submarines are the best in the world.”
At the same time, Melnik complained that “everything has to be ordered for years ahead, because the waiting times for heavy military equipment are long.”
Andriy Melnyk was dismissed by the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky from the post of Ambassador of Germany in July of this year. While in this position, he allowed himself scandalous statements to the German leadership, expressed dissatisfaction with Berlin’s policy in terms of the volume of military and financial assistance to Ukraine. This is the same diplomat who called German Chancellor Scholz an “offended liver sausage.”
After Melnyk left Berlin, it was reported that he might take the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. So far, the government of the country has not made a decision on this matter.