BERLIN, April 13. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is not planning a visit to Ukraine and is baffled by the fact that Kiev has turned down German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s offer to visit Ukraine, the RBB radio station said on Wednesday.

Scholz said that he had visited Kiev several days before Russia’s operation and had frequent phone calls with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

"There is hardly any head of state or government who maintains such intensive contacts with me," Scholz said, adding that the refusal to receive Steinmeier "was confusing."

"The president would willingly go to Ukraine. It would be good to welcome him," the chancellor said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock commented on Kiev’s refusal to welcome Steinmeier.

"I regret it. We discussed this trip together [with the president], and I believe that it would have been worthwhile," German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger said at a briefing, citing Baerbock.

In the meantime, Wolfgang Buchner, deputy spokesperson for the German government, refrained from assessing Kiev’s steps, but pointed out that Steinmeier had always supported Ukraine "very explicitly and unequivocally." Buchner recalled that "the president officially represents the Federal Republic."

Bild reported earlier that President Vladimir Zelensky had rejected a visit offer from Steinmeier due to his policy toward Russia. In Germany, Zelensky’s decision caused incomprehension and German politicians from different parties were quick to lambast it. Steinmeier confirmed that Kiev did not want him to visit in the coming days.

On Tuesday evening, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany Andrey Melnik said on ProSieben and SAT.1. television channels that after rejecting Steinmeier’s plans to visit Ukraine, Kiev invited Scholz. The diplomat emphasized that the visit should focus on Germany’s shipments of heavy weapons to Kiev.