Steinmeier is said to have submitted documents
When Selenskyj protested in the telephone conversation that he had not known anything about the process, Steinmeier is said to have gotten angry, the “Spiegel” reported further. The Federal President apparently said he had all the correspondence in front of him, referring to a diplomatic note from the Ukrainian government dated April 12, the day the trip was canceled. “Please spare yourself and me from having to read it all out now,” Steinmeier is quoted as saying.
After further appeasement from Selenskyj, Steinmeier even asked a third time, according to “Spiegel”. He then got an evasive, but probably duly bruised reaction from the Ukrainian. Only then did the Federal President give in.
Further travel plans to Kyiv discussed
When asked, the Federal President’s Office informed the magazine that it was not reporting on confidential discussions. Since then, another phone call between Steinmeier and Selenskyj has taken place on June 30, in which the Federal President’s travel plans to Kyiv are said to have been discussed.
Steinmeier originally wanted to travel to Kyiv with his colleagues from Poland and the three Baltic states in mid-April. The Federal President, who as foreign and chancellery minister played a key role in shaping German Russia policy in the past, announced shortly beforehand that the Ukrainian leadership had rejected his visit.
On request, the Office of the Federal President had informed that confidential discussions were not reported. Since then, another phone call between Steinmeier and Selenskyj took place on June 30, during which the Federal President’s travel plans to Kyiv are said to have been an issue.