German ambassador to Kyiv reprimanded for German foreign minister’s statement

Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine Christof Weil was invited to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on Feb 4 regarding a recent statement by the country’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier that Germany might apply sanctions against Ukraine.

According to the press office of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, they in the ministry stressed the need to show an impartial attitude towards the internal political processes developing in Ukraine and to refrain from provocative statements.

They also expressed hope that Germany will be constructive and unbiased, which will help to settle the situation.

While interviewed by ARD TV channel on Feb 3 Steinmeier said that if no political solution is found in Ukraine, Germany reserves the right to make a decisive stand against the Ukrainian authorities and even to apply sanctions. “I think that now we must use sanctions as a threat,” the German foreign minister said.