Selenskyj in the Bundestag: Putin must lose the war personally
Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th 2024, 16:10
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on his country's allies to work together to successfully end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Russia must not be allowed to continue its march through Europe, said Selensky in an emotional speech in the German Bundestag in Berlin on Tuesday. "It is in our common interest that Putin personally loses this war." Russian President Vladimir Putin is used to subjugating others.
The Ukrainian President was greeted with prolonged applause from the MPs. He entered the packed plenary chamber alongside Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Federal Council President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his cabinet also took part in the session. Three large flower arrangements in the Ukrainian colors blue and yellow lay in front of the lectern, on the seats of the parliamentary stenographers.
The war must be ended in such a way that there is no doubt who has won, said Selenskyj, who was repeatedly interrupted by applause. At the end, the MPs applauded him standing for several minutes. Russia must take full responsibility for unleashing the war, he said. "Russia must pay for all the damage caused by this aggression."
The Ukrainian president thanked Germany for its support for his country. "I thank you Germany." In particular, he mentioned the delivery of Patriot air defense systems. These had saved thousands of lives.
Selensky also addressed the upcoming Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland. "We want to give diplomacy a chance," he said. "Ukraine has never relied solely on the strength of its weapons."
Zelensky had already spoken to MPs on March 17, 2022, three weeks after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. At the time, he was connected live to the plenary chamber via video.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) pledged the solidarity of the parliament to the Ukrainian President - "in times of war and during reconstruction", as she emphasized. "And I am certain that the Russian war crimes will be punished. Germany, Europe and the democratic world owe this to the people of Ukraine," Bas emphasized.
Almost all MPs took part in the meeting. Only the AfD parliamentary group was absent, with the exception of four MPs. The group Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) had already announced in advance that it would boycott the speech. Like quite a few people in eastern Germany, the AfD and BSW are against arms deliveries to Ukraine and in favor of peace talks with Russia.
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