According to the presidential website, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired numerous high-ranking foreign envoys on Saturday, including Kyiv’s ambassador to Germany.
He announced the removal of Ukraine’s ambassadors to Germany, India, the Czech Republic, Norway, and Hungary in a proclamation that provided no explanation for the action.
It was unclear at first if the envoys would receive new positions.
As Ukraine seeks to repel Russia’s invasion on February 24, Zelensky has asked his diplomats to mobilise international backing and military assistance for Ukraine.
Germany, the largest economy in Europe and a country that depends largely on Russian energy supplies, has been a difficult subject for Kyiv.
The dispute between the two governments centres on a German-made turbine that is being serviced in Canada. Germany requests that Ottawa give the gas-pumping turbine back to Russian gas giant Gazprom so it can supply gas to Europe.
Ukraine has encouraged Canada to withhold the turbine since sending it to Russia would be against the sanctions put in place against Moscow, according to Kyiv.
