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Germany secures long-term supplies of ammunition to Ukraine

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky
Photo: EPA/BGNES

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Ukraine's ambassadors to Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and India. Zelensky described this as normal diplomatic practice. Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk became known for his repeated calls for more support for Ukraine from the German government in the form of heavier armaments. He was recently criticized for his defense of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bander, Bulgarian media reported. According to Germany's Bild newspaper, Melnyk will be appointed to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and may become deputy minister in the autumn.

The change of the ambassador to Germany comes at a time of complicated relations between Kyiv and Berlin over a dispute over a Nord Stream gas turbine repaired in Canada. Germany is demanding that it be returned to Gazprom to ensure gas supplies to Europe, while Ukraine is demanding that the Canadian authorities retain it, as sending it to Russia would be in violation of sanctions. Yesterday, Canada decided to return the turbine to Germany.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the German government has secured a long-term supply of munitions for the Gepard anti-aircraft systems promised to Ukraine. The ammunition will be produced by a Norwegian manufacturer. The delivery of the Gepard anti-aircraft systems, which will help Ukraine protect critical infrastructure, is expected from this month, BTA reported.

The war in Ukraine was also a dominant theme at the G20 summit in Bali. In a 5-hour conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi within the framework of the meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Blinken, China cannot remain neutral regarding the conflict in Ukraine, which poses a challenge to the international world order.



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