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

Saturday, 24 February 2024 at 4 p.m. on Marburg Market Square

Speeches at the rally:

Speech by Thorsten Bonacker, Centre for Peace and Conflict Research:

Dear people who have come to the market square today to demonstrate your solidarity
with Ukraine,
it is good that we are standing here again and showing our solidarity with Ukraine.
It is important that we stand here and that we do not stop saying that it is
the responsibility of the West, and above all of the German government, to support
Ukraine with everything it needs.
At the same time, it is a disgrace that we have to stand here again and that
Russia continues to terrorise the people of Ukraine with its bombs and its
ongoing occupation. The fact that we are standing here again is also, unfortunately,
proof that the support for Ukraine has not been sufficient so far. It has
not yet been possible to force Russia to negotiate. It has not been possible
succeeded in ending the illegal Russian occupation. And we have not succeeded in
bringing countries such as China and India over to the side of those who want to end this war,
but not on Russia’s terms.
…
The full text of the speech can be found here.

Speech by Yurii Radiev (delivered by Iryna Seta), MAVKA e.V.:
The first thing I want to make clear is that we do not want war and never have. I have never wanted war, none of the people I know, whether Ukrainian or German, want war; the Ukrainian refugees in Marburg do not want war, my family in Ukraine does not want war; the Ukrainian soldiers who have been bravely defending our right to exist for more than ten years never wanted war. The war came to our doorstep, destroyed our homes and cities, killed our children, families, relatives and friends, and destroyed the lives of millions of people. We never wanted this war, but it was brought to our soil by Russia – a terrorist state under the control of an unscrupulous dictator who glorifies his bloody past and dreams of becoming a great empire again. Ten years ago, under the pretext of ‘protecting the Russian-speaking population’ – an argument borrowed from Hitler himself – Russia began its war of aggression in Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Donbas. Ukraine never sought war – the war was started by Russia, and we have no choice but to defend ourselves.
….
The full text of the speech can be found here.

Speech by Hubert Kleinert, spokesperson for the Zeitenwende Marburg initiative:

Dear residents of Marburg,

My name is Hubert Kleinert, I am the spokesperson for the Zeitenwende initiative, and I would like to welcome you on behalf of all the organisers of this rally. I would also like to do so on behalf of the Ukrainian community in Marburg, the political parties, the Protestant Church and all the other co-organisers.

We have gathered here today because exactly two years ago, Russia launched its war of aggression against the whole of Ukraine. What began in 2014, ten years ago, with the annexation of Crimea and the war in the Donbas region, has since become a cruel and murderous reality for the entire country. Death and destruction, devastation and ruin are the result. American sources speak of 70,000 to 120,000 Russian soldiers killed and 60,000 to 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed. No one knows the exact numbers. The destruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure is immeasurable. Russia is trying to destroy the existence of an independent, free and sovereign state with brutal force.

This war of aggression was not provoked by anyone. And it is unprecedented in European history since 1945. That is why it is important to send a signal today. A signal of protest against the murderous regime of Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which started this war. Against a regime that denies the existence of the Ukrainian nation, that wants to destroy Ukrainian culture and that, with its imperialist policy of aggression, has become a threat to the entire democratic world of Europe. And that is why the first thing we must do here today is to say loud and clear: Putin must be stopped! Russia must never be allowed to win this war it has imposed on Ukraine and the democratic world. And I would add: Russia will not win this war.
….
The full text of the speech can be found here

Call for a rally:

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. These goals are to destroy the existence of an independent Ukrainian state and to remove 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