Ukraine's new UN ambassador relying on German support

Ukrainian ambassador-designate to the United Nations, Andriy Melnyk, is looking to German support on international law in his country's struggle to fight off the Russian invasion.

"Alongside the weapons with which Ukrainians have been bravely defending their independence against Russia for almost three years, I will reach for the sword of international law, our sharpest weapon, to stand up to the Russians," Melnyk told dpa from Brasilia on Sunday.

In taking on what he termed a "mammoth task," Melnyk - who is currently Ukraine's ambassador to Brazil - said he was relying on the stronger shoulders of Ukraine's German allies.

Melnyk served as ambassador to Germany from January 2015 to October 2022, a period that included the first months of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

During that time, he was highly outspoken about what he considered Germany's hesitant support with arms supplies.

On leaving Germany, Melnyk was appointed deputy foreign minister and subsequently ambassador to Brazil in June 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his move to New York on Friday, with an official appointment expected in early January.

At the UN headquarters, Melnyk will confront Russia's equally sharp-tongued ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya.

"As a founding member of the United Nations, Ukraine will do all in its power to ensure that the UN Charter and the fundamental principles anchored in it, such as territorial integrity, remain holy and are respected by all countries without reservation," he said.

"As future UN ambassador, I will ensure that sovereignty is not watered down and that the arbitrary shifting of national borders will never be tolerated," he added.