“Taurus, Taurus, Taurus.” The rally participants' call for German cruise missiles, which are supposed to support the Ukrainians in their defense against Russia, does not want to end this afternoon. The empathetic and combative speeches of numerous politicians and activists who emphasized their solidarity and ongoing support for Ukraine on Saturday were repeatedly interrupted. Exactly two years after the Russian attack on the country, around 1,000 people came to a rally on Frankfurt's Römerberg, called by several Ukrainian groups, including Perspective Ukraine.
Oksana Pavliuk from Perspective Ukraine announced a petition to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Among other things, he is asked to support Ukrainian President Zelensky's peace plan, to tighten sanctions policy against Russia and to advocate for rapid and extensive arms deliveries to Ukraine. The participants in the rally were also able to sign a huge blue and yellow flag, which will also be sent to Scholz. The wording of the petition can be read on the Perpektive Ukraine website.
“If you want peace, you have to prepare for war.”
The speakers also joined the call for further arms deliveries. Daniel Röder from Pulse of Europe said, “if you want peace, you have to prepare for war.” Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) emphasized the importance of defense: “If Ukraine lays down its arms, it will no longer exist. If Russia lays down its arms, the war will be over.”
Ukrainian Consul General Vadym Kostiuk urgently appealed to the Germans to finally wake up and get out of their virtual comfort zone, in which they believed that the war was far away from them. A naive view of Putin only benefits the aggressor in Russia. Aid to Ukraine should not only be seen as a donation, but rather as an investment in Germany's security.
Bettina Wiesmann, CDU member of the Bundestag, pointed out that the fighting on Ukrainian territory began 10 years ago in Crimea. “We hope from the bottom of our hearts that you win the war,” she addressed the numerous Ukrainians who had come to Römerberg that day. She also believes that the war is much closer “than we want to believe.” The danger posed by Russia has been underestimated for too long, including in the Union, and it has become too dependent on, for example, Nord Stream 2. Regarding the supply of arms to Ukraine, she said that Germany had delivered too late and too little. A defensive shift is necessary in Europe because Putin only understands the language of strength. Europe must pay for and organize its own defense.
State parliament member Stefan Naas (FDP) gave a clear rejection to those who are looking for a peace solution without weapons: he called them “weirdos who think that something can be achieved through negotiations”.
Mike Josef reiterated the city's desire to enter into a twinning relationship with the Ukrainian city of Lemberg (Lviv). Ukrainian Consul General Vadym Kostiuk confirmed that the contracts could be signed soon. Lemberg, about the same size as Frankfurt in terms of the number of inhabitants, is located in the west of Ukraine, about 70 kilometers from the Polish border.
On Saturday evening, the rally was followed by an ecumenical prayer in St. Bartholomew's Cathedral for Ukraine, with the Catholic city dean Johannes zu Eltz, the Protestant city dean Holger Kamlah, as well as Ukrainian and Orthodox priests. Together with the Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Frankfurt, Julian Chaim Soussan, candles were lit on the cathedral square.
The 250 meter high Frankfurt Europa Tower in the Ginnheim district shines in blue and yellow from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. The latter is a joint effort by the city of Frankfurt and the owner of the tower, DFMG Deutsche Funkturm GmbH.
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