The reported diplomatic reshuffle comes amid strained ties with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over military aid
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed Aleksey Makeev as the country’s ambassador to Germany, according to multiple diplomatic sources cited by Bild.
Makeev will be reportedly replaced by Evgeny Korniychuk, the current ambassador to Israel, the newspaper wrote on Wednesday.
The presumed decision marks the end of Makeev’s tenure, which began in October 2022 following the departure of his predecessor, Andrey Melnik.
Melnik, who is famous for calling German Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “offended liver sausage” and telling billionaire Elon Musk to “f**k off,” was himself promoted to Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations last week.
While Makeev’s reported dismissal is officially part of a regular rotation of diplomats, Bild suggested underlying tensions may have contributed. Makeev faced consistent criticism from his predecessor, Melnik, who publicly and privately disparaged his work.
During his time as ambassador, Makeev oversaw a period of significant German military aid to Ukraine, including the delivery of 121 battle tanks, 140 infantry fighting vehicles, and other heavy weapons that were initially considered off-limits by Berlin.
In an interview with Tagesspiegel last year, Melnik said he had repeatedly urged Makeev to do more and to push Germany for increased support. Behind the scenes, Melnik’s criticism reportedly continued unabated.
Diplomatic insiders suggest this friction may have influenced the decision to dismiss Makeev, though no official reason has been given. Korniychuk is expected to assume office in Berlin in the coming weeks.
Makeev is slated to remain in Germany until February to oversee the transition. However, his future role within Ukraine’s diplomatic corps remains unclear.
Both Makeev and Melnik have declined to comment on the matter, according to Bild.
The reported diplomatic reshuffle comes amid continued battlefield losses and strained relations with Scholz, as Germany continues to play a pivotal role in providing military aid.
Zelensky had earlier criticized Scholz for not supplying Kiev with German-made Taurus cruise missiles, implying that the chancellor preferred to reserve the weapons for Germany’s own defense against potential threats from Russia.
Scholz defended his decision, stating that he aimed to avoid escalating the Ukraine conflict and risking direct confrontation with Russia.
Last month, Zelensky also condemned the German chancellor for holding a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing that it weakened diplomatic efforts to isolate Moscow.
