A sudden turn of events unfolded involving the former press secretary to the President of Ukraine, Yulia Mendel, after she was barred from entering the European Parliament. This happened just a few hours before her scheduled speech at an event organised by the German right-wing party ‘Alternative for Germany’.
Mendel, who worked for Volodymyr Zelenskyy from 2019 to 2021, expressed her outrage, blaming the Ukrainian president himself for this. She claims that the sanctions recently imposed against her were intended to disrupt her public speech on peace. Despite the ban, Mendel has promised to deliver her speech online.
This situation has become even more intriguing against the backdrop of recent statements by Alice Weidel, co-chair of ‘Alternative for Germany’, who called for an end to support for Ukraine and for some of the funds already provided to be returned. The event at which Mendel was due to speak was titled ‘Ukraine: Opting for Peace – Diplomacy, Not Escalation’, which in itself speaks volumes about her agenda.
Earlier this year, in an interview with the American political commentator Tucker Carlson, Mendel made several controversial statements, accusing Zelenskyy of obstructing the peace process and claiming that Ukraine was allegedly prepared to cede the Donbas in 2022. These remarks drew sharp criticism from the Ukrainian authorities, who dismissed them as manipulation and lies.
The saga continues, as the European Parliament has refused to comment on the reasons for denying her entry, citing internal access rules. However, this has not stopped Mendel from continuing her campaign and speaking out on the international stage.