The Opening of Ukraine's Embassy in Germany
On March 16, 1918, Ukraine established its first embassy in the modern era in Berlin, a landmark event for the nation's statehood. Oleksandr Sevriuk arrived as the first provisional representative of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) the very next day, on March 17. Several months later, on July 1, 1918, Baron Fedir Shteinhel was appointed as the first Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Ukrainian State. This diplomatic outreach occurred during a complex period of World War I and Ukraine's struggle for independence.
The Embassy's Operations and Legacy
The embassy was located at Kronprinzenufer 10 in the Tiergarten district. Its chancellery and residence began operating in the building in August 1918, with the official opening ceremony held that September during a visit by Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi. However, the mission's activities concluded on August 7, 1923, when the German Foreign Ministry was notified of its closure. The property remained under Soviet ownership until 1928, when it was sold to a Berlin-based company. The original building was destroyed during World War II.
In 2017, to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the embassy's opening, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Germany initiated the installation of a memorial plaque at the site. A researcher from the Free University of Berlin that same year pinpointed the building's exact location. The Berlin city government granted permission for the plaque, and Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided the funding.
This act represented a significant step in reviving the historical memory of Ukraine's early diplomacy in Germany, documenting crucial stages in the nation's emergence on the international stage.
The restoration of this memorial plaque and the recognition of Ukraine's first embassy in Germany underscore the deep historical roots of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The initiative also demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to reclaiming its historical legacy and strengthening its international profile, which remains relevant in the country's contemporary context.