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

Saturday, 22 February 2025 at 4 p.m. on Marburg Market Square

Call for a rally:
Against the war – Marburg stands with Ukraine

On 24 February 2025, it will be three years since Russia launched its full-scale war of aggression against the whole of Ukraine. What hardly anyone in our country thought possible, despite Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, has been a sad reality for three years now: 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. To this day, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that the war cannot end until Russia has fully achieved its goals. And these consist in the destruction of the existence of an independent Ukrainian state and the elimination of its government.

For years, this criminal war of aggression has brought death and destruction, annihilation and devastation. Putin and his regime are responsible for the suffering of millions of Ukrainians and the deaths of many 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. Despite all the problems, Ukraine is defending itself with all its might. The fact that it is able to do so is also due to the fact that solidarity and support from the Western world have been 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 exhaustion in the West. In Germany, it is primarily the AfD and Wagenknecht’s party that do not want to continue political and military support for Ukraine. It is completely uncertain whether and to what extent President Trump will continue aid to Ukraine.

We too want this war to end soon. We too want death, violence and destruction to stop. We too want peace. That is why we welcome all initiatives that actually bring this goal closer.

However, peace for Ukraine must be a just peace. A just peace cannot be achieved at the expense of Ukraine and its state sovereignty. Peace is therefore only possible on terms that are fully acceptable to the Ukrainian side. And it must create sufficient security guarantees for the future of this country so badly ravaged by war.

At present, Ukraine is more dependent than ever on Western arms deliveries if it is to continue to defend its state sovereignty. This defence is also of great importance for European and German security. Without effective support from the West, Ukraine’s position will be greatly weakened, even in possible negotiations.

That is why we must continue to support Ukraine with all the means at our disposal. We must support it humanitarily, 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. These include economic issues, but also problems relating to the functioning of a democratic state. However, today’s Ukraine is part of the Western democracies and therefore belongs in the European Union.

Here in Marburg, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the whole of Ukraine, we want 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 as indifferent to international law as it is to the consequences of the war for its own population. 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 22 February at 4 p.m. on the market square!

Zeitenwende Marburg
Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Marburg 
Die Marburger SPD 
CDU Marburg 
FDP Marburg 
Bürger für Marburg (BfM)
Klimaliste Marburg 
Deutsch-Ukrainischer Verein MAVKA 
Pulse of Europe
Evangelischer Kirchenkreis Marburg