Protest and solidarity rally ‘Against the war – Marburg stands with Ukraine’

Against the war – Marburg stands with Ukraine

On 24 February 2024, it will be two years since Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against the whole of Ukraine. What began ten years ago with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas is still a sad reality. For the first time in European history since 1945, a European state is attempting to destroy the state integrity of another state by military force. Just recently, Vladimir Putin reiterated that the war cannot end until Russia has fully achieved its goals. And these goals are the destruction of the existence of an independent Ukrainian state and the removal of its government.
For years, this criminal war of aggression has brought death and destruction, devastation and desolation. Putin and his regime are responsible for the suffering of millions of Ukrainians and the deaths of thousands of Russian soldiers. Generations will suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of this war of aggression.
The Russian aggressors have not achieved any of their war aims so far. Ukraine is defending itself courageously and resolutely. Its ability to do so is also due to the fact that solidarity and support from the Western world are stronger and more united than the Russian dictator had assumed. This makes it all the more important that this support continues.
Meanwhile, there are also signs of a certain weariness in the West. In Germany, it is primarily the AfD, Wagenknecht’s party and large sections of the Left Party that do not want to continue political and military support for Ukraine. In the United States, it is completely uncertain whether aid to Ukraine will continue after a possible election victory for Donald Trump.
Ukraine is more dependent than ever on Western arms supplies if it is to continue to defend its state sovereignty. This defence is also of great importance for European and German security.
Because preventing a Russian military victory is the most important goal, we must continue to support Ukraine with all the means at our disposal. We must support it humanitarianly, politically and economically. But we must also help it with military equipment to exercise its right to self-defence. We stand side by side with the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their self-determination.
Political support also includes a clear prospect of Ukraine joining the EU. There are certainly many difficult issues to be resolved before the country can become a full member of the EU. But today’s Ukraine is part of the Western democratic world and belongs in the European Union.
Of course, we all want this war to end soon, we want death, violence and destruction to stop. We want peace. But that will only be possible if Ukraine is politically and militarily strong enough that Russia realises it cannot achieve its goals and opens up to a negotiated peace that is acceptable to Ukraine. That is why the West must continue to supply weapons.

Here in Marburg, we want to use this day, the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, which began ten years ago with the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, as an opportunity to send a public signal. A signal of protest against the autocratic system in Moscow, which is waging war on a neighbouring state and is indifferent to international law. Above all, however, we want to send a signal of solidarity with Ukraine. We want to show that the citizens of Marburg stand with Ukraine – across all party lines and other differences.

That is why we call on all of you to come to the protest and solidarity rally on 24 February at 4 p.m. on the market square!

Deutsch-Ukrainischer Verein Marburg OBOZ Plus e.V.
Initiative Zeitenwende Marburg
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Marburg
SPD Marburg
CDU Marburg
FDP Marburg
MAVKA Deutsch-Ukrainischer Verein e.V.
Pulse of Europe
Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen
Bürger für Marburg
Ausländerbeirat Marburg
Klimaliste Marburg