Germany–Ukraine relations

Updated on Dec 12, 2024

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Embassy of Germany, Kiev Embassy of Ukraine, Berlin Ambassador Ernst Reichel Ambassador Andriy Melnyk

Germany–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Germany and Ukraine. Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany originally were established in 1918 as between Ukrainian People's Republic and German Empire, but were discontinued soon thereafter due to occupation of Ukraine by the Red Army. Current relations were resumed in 1989 at a consulate level, and in 1992 as full-scale diplomatic mission.

History

1918 - In the aftermath of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, German troops provided military assistance to Ukraine against the Soviet Russia; German military administration was instrumental in Pavlo Skoropadskyi coup against the Ukrainian People's Republic (April 1918) and the establishment of the short-lived Ukrainian State; the first German Ambassador to Ukraine was Alfons Mumm von Schwarzenstein; the first Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany was Oleksandr Sevriuk (as Chargé d'affaires) who was replaced with Teodor Shteingel.

1941-1944 - German troops (with the help of Italians, Romanians, and Hungarians) occupy most of Soviet Ukraine and portioning between General Government and Reichskommissariat Ukraine; OUN's Ukrainian Insurgent Army alternates between fighting the Germans and accepting their help against the Soviets.

1944-1950s - surviving OUN leaders find refuge in the US occupation zone of Germany, which becomes home to many Ukrainian displaced persons

1953 - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (then called "Radio Liberation") starts its operations in Munich, broadcasting to Ukraine in Ukrainian

1959 - Stepan Bandera killed in Munich by a Soviet agent