Scholz says 'no' to Ukraine trip over German president's thwarted visit to Kyiv

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to travel to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv for the time being because the Ukrainian side has uninvited President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

It was "a very remarkable process" to uninvite the federal president, who had just been re-elected with a large majority, Scholz told the ZDF television network Monday.

With a view to his own trip to Ukraine, Scholz stressed “that stands in the way of things.”

When asked how this could be resolved, the chancellor said: "First of all, for us as democrats, it must be part of the fact that we have no doubts about this matter: You can't do that."

"It cannot work that a country that provides so much military aid, provides so much financial aid that is needed when it comes to the security guarantees that are important for Ukraine's time in the future are that you then say: ‘But the president must not come.’”

Steinmeier's planned visit fell through in mid-April because the Ukrainian side uninvited him. He wanted to go to Kyiv with the heads of state of Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, who eventually left without him.

The German president has been criticized by Kyiv for his previous Russia policy as foreign minister in Ukraine.​​​​​​​

In the meantime, Steinmeier has admitted errors in the assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin and in his evaluation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.