The Chancellor meets shortly before the runoff election in the Ukraine with the country’s President, Petro Poroshenko, to run again. Some German politicians do not see it as a Problem, Merkel.
It images, every campaigner wants: Friendly welcome by the most powerful woman in the world, a handshake in front of the flags of Germany, the EU and Ukraine. The Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, had this Friday afternoon in the Chancellery of the opportunity to present itself as a world politician – unlike his opponent.
Poroshenko can make use of tailwind for his campaign, because nine days before the presidential runoff election in Ukraine, he is in the polls behind the Ukrainian TV-comedian Selenskyj. That Angela Merkel shortly before the decision, only one of the two Ukrainian presidential candidates, “condemned” the Left-politician Andrej Hunko as “interference”. Also the group Vice of the liberal FDP, Stephan Thomae, Vice-Chairman of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group, holds the Meeting for “most awkward.”
“Permanent Contact”
Angela Merkel defends her decision to have the Ukrainian President invited. You and Poroshenko were “very continuous exchange of information, even in times where in fact the elections.” The Chancellor believes that this “constant contact is important,” she says. Your government spokesman had earlier said that it was at the Meeting, “of course,” to interference.
Incumbent Poroshenko (l) is according to the polls behind his opponent Volodymyr Selenskyj (r)
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has decided otherwise. Just under 900 miles as the crow flies from Berlin, the French President is meeting with both Ukrainian presidential candidates. First, the Challenger Volodymyr Selenskyj, then incumbent President Poroshenko. The Deputy Chairman of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group Thomae: “the Actions of The French President, testifies to the long-term view”. Merkel’s unilateral invitation to make, however, “not very diplomatic”.
Skepticism is close to Merkel
In fact, Poroshenko in Berlin also uses the time to present itself as a close Partner of the West and of Chancellor Merkel. He thanked the Chancellor and the “German partners” for their political support in the conflict with Russia and economic aid. He was “sure we go the right way”.
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Merkel: “We maintain a very constant exchange of”
Angela Merkel speaks by way of the Ukraine. The country had come in the fight against corruption, “but certainly not at the end”. And also the attempt to end the war in Eastern Ukraine, known as the Minsk process, was not satisfactory, but now you have to go “the way forward”. More evident than in the requirement for continuity and the lack of criticism of Poroshenko Merkel’s “interference,” not shortly before the election.
Opposition politician Stefan Thomae thinks that Chancellor Merkel hold Poroshenko against players Selenskyj is difficult to calculate. “There is also what may be in it,” says Thomae. To support targeted Poroshenko, could go “slightly backwards”, because the voters could see the close proximity to Merkel is also sceptical. Andrej Hunko of the Left even thinks that “the Ostpolitik of the German government and the EU has left Ukraine in a shambles”.
The war in Eastern Ukraine continues despite diplomatic attempts at mediation from Berlin and Brussels
“Europe to take seriously”
Ukraine expert Susan Stewart of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und politik (SWP) believes that the Meeting with the Chancellor fit in Poroshenko’s strategy. The incumbent wool swipe with his visit, that “he is taken seriously in Europe and the connection to the EU is pushing forward.”
Poroshenko formulated the the Chancellery in Berlin, so It was the EU-orientation is not “on ice”. He’ll do anything to be with his country “in the European family to come back”. The remaining time in the election campaign, he will use for debates with Selenskyj, so no one had to buy a “pig in a poke”.
The acting President of Ukraine speaks from a first-channel peak, so the Format with Russia, France and Germany, he wanted to organize immediately after the election. Given the survey results, however, it is very uncertain whether he will come.