Berlin calls ”insult" Kyiv's refusal to host German President

The head of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, said Ukraine's refusal to host German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is "an insult with political and historical preconditions."

"I consider what happened as an overly emotional reaction of the Ukrainian authorities, which does not help either side," RIA Novosti quotes the politician as saying.

Merz also criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to him, the leader's statements run counter to real actions and cause discontent among his entourage.