On December 20, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of Andrii Melnyk as Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations. This decision is part of a broader diplomatic reshuffle, which includes the appointment of over 30 new ambassadors.
Melnyk, who served as Ukraine's ambassador to Germany from December 2014 to July 2022, is noted for his outspoken comments regarding German leadership. He has previously criticized former Chancellor Angela Merkel and current President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for their appeasement policies towards Russia, which he argues facilitated Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
In May 2022, Melnyk made headlines for his remarks about Chancellor Olaf Scholz, suggesting that the Chancellor was acting like a 'hurt liver sausage' after he declined to visit Kyiv. Melnyk later expressed a desire to personally apologize to Scholz for his comments.
After his tenure in Germany, Melnyk was recalled to Kyiv and appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister. In June 2023, he took on the role of Ambassador to Brazil. He continues to engage with German political discourse through social media, often criticizing pro-Russian politicians in Germany.