Ukrainian ambassador rejects Russian blame for Moscow attack

DPA
·2 min read
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Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany pictured during a visit to Diehl Defense. Makeiev on 27 March called Russian allegations that his country was involved in the attack near Moscow that left at least 139 people dead "absurd" during an interview on Deutschlandfunk public radio. Christoph Schmidt/dpa
Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany pictured during a visit to Diehl Defense. Makeiev on 27 March called Russian allegations that his country was involved in the attack near Moscow that left at least 139 people dead "absurd" during an interview on Deutschlandfunk public radio. Christoph Schmidt/dpa

The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany on Wednesday called Russian allegations that his country was involved in the attack near Moscow that left at least 139 people dead "absurd."

"Yes, I rule that out," Oleksii Makeiev said on Deutschlandfunk public radio on Wednesday morning, adding that these were "absurd accusations."

Russia is trying to accuse Ukraine of terrorism in order to divert attention from its own terror, he said.

At least 139 people were killed and almost 200 injured in Friday's attack when four gunmen fired at the Crocus City Hall music venue.

Islamic State has already claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow on several occasions.

Western security authorities and experts also consider this to be credible and suspect the offshoot Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) to be behind it.

Russian spokespeople have talked about Islamist terrorists. However, they insinuate that they could have acted on behalf of Ukraine or its Western supporters.

Ukraine has been engaged in a defensive war against Russia for over two years.

In the interview Makeiev also opposed statements by Social Democrat (SPD) parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich about "freezing" the war. The ambassador referred to the many rounds of negotiations with Russia since 2014, in which Germany was also involved. "This freeze has only led to a huge war raging in Europe today," said Makeiev.

He said he spoke to Mützenich, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil and SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert behind closed doors last week and was assured that the SPD would not change anything regarding Germany's support for Ukraine.