Commemoration: Steinmeier: You can rely on Germany in the Ukraine war

On the first anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier pledged further comprehensive aid to the attacked country. Steinmeier said in Berlin that Germany is today, including militarily, its biggest supporter on the European continent. “And despite all the controversial, sometimes shrill debates, I am certain that we will continue to be.” With a view to what is still to come, he says: “You can rely on Germany.” Steinmeier repeated this sentence in Ukrainian.

If Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin seriously wants an end to the war, his troops would have to pull out of Ukraine, he continued. “Russia must be absolutely clear: there can be no victory in its criminal war.” Putin wants to win with all his might, but the truth is: “Anyone who murders and kills, who bombs the Ukraine to pieces, destroys cities and abducts children, who lets their own soldiers bleed to death senselessly day after day, will never be seen before history as a Standing there as a winner has already lost!”

Selenskyj thanks Germany for the support

The Federal President, together with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, had invited to the central German event at the beginning of the war at Bellevue Palace. It was attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and numerous members of his cabinet, as well as Bundestag President Bärbel Bas and Bundesrat President Peter Tschentscher (both SPD).

In a recorded video message, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj thanked Germany for its support in the first year of the war. “From the first minutes of the Russian invasion, Germany was with us. Germany is helping us to protect Ukraine from Russian terror. And Germany will be with us on the day of the victory of freedom.” Zelenskyy said he was confident that his country would win the war. “We are capable of putting an end to Russian aggression this year.”

Ukraine flags hoisted in Berlin

In solidarity with the attacked country, Ukrainian flags were hoisted in front of Bellevue Palace, the Reichstag, the Chancellery and other central buildings in Berlin on Friday.

Numerous demonstrations were registered in the capital and in many other cities in Germany to mark the anniversary. A Russian T-72 tank that had been destroyed in Ukraine was set up on a low-loader opposite the Russian embassy in Berlin early in the morning as a sign of protest.

Scholz: Despite challenges, a lot of things “done well”

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) sees Germany on the right track, despite the crises caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “With all the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and also in Germany – we managed a lot quite well,” said Scholz in his video message “KanzlerKompakt”. “We have enough gas and oil. The economy is not in a deep recession. And we have taken in more than a million Ukrainian refugees, thanks to the great willingness to help across the country.”

Scholz again appealed to Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin to put an end to the suffering. “Putin has it in his hands. He can end this war.” Scholz emphasized that it was not the supply of weapons from the West that was prolonging the war. “The opposite is true: the sooner Russia’s president realizes that he will not achieve his imperialist goal, the greater the chance that the war will end soon.” The video message is also available online with Ukrainian subtitles.

After initial hesitation, the German government decided to provide military support to Ukraine. This now also includes heavy weapons such as the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the anti-aircraft vehicle Gepard. Marder armored personnel carriers and Leopard 2 main battle tanks are to be added soon. The needy population was also supported with large quantities of civilian goods such as food, generators and emergency shelters.

Taking in hundreds of thousands of war refugees

Germany also took in hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ukraine, mostly women and children. It converted its energy supply, which was previously heavily dependent on Russia, as part of the sanctions against Moscow and no longer purchases gas and oil from there. The attack on Ukraine also resulted in the Bundestag agreeing on a special fund of 100 billion euros to be used to improve the equipment of the Bundeswehr. The federal government is also cushioning the consequences of the war for citizens and companies, such as sharply increased prices for energy and food, with billions of euros.

From the point of view of FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr, Ukraine must win the war against Russia. Dürr told the German Press Agency: “Ukraine not only defends its population and its state territory, but also fundamental values ​​such as freedom and democracy, which Putin attacks every day.”