Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany: restoration of Russia's rights in PACE undermines Kyiv's trust in Berlin
Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk, in an interview with Welt news outlet, said that restoration of the rights of the Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had undermined Kyiv's confidence in Berlin.
Ukrainians think that this decision was a "fatal mistake," noted the ambassador. "It has also undermined Kyiv's trust in Germany," he said.
Melnyk said that this decision "was terrible," and expressed regret that eight German deputies voted in favor of the resolution, in particular, the head of the delegation Andreas Nick from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
On June 25, PACE deputies adopted a resolution that allowed the Russian delegation to return to the Assembly. Next day members of the Assembly approved the resolution without amendments, thanks to which Russia was able to return to the PACE. As part of the discussion of the document, deputies voted against 19 amendments that could limit the rights of the Russian delegation. The Ukrainian delegation left the meeting room in protest. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin admitted that after the return of Russia, Moscow and Europe will start negotiations "behind the Kyiv's back."