On 24 February 2022 the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began. The state of war in Ukraine has already lasted two years. Two years in which the Ukrainian civilian population has had to endure severe suffering and in which terrible war crimes have been committed. An end to the ongoing aggression is still not in sight. We continue to stand clearly at Ukraine’s side and behind its defence of its citizens’ right to a life in peace and freedom. Many Jews in Germany are also affected by the situation and fear a further escalation. 45 per cent of the members of the Jewish community in this country have their roots in Ukraine. Moreover, Russia’s attack was and is more than the invasion of a peaceful neighbouring state in breach of international law. It is at the same time a direct attack on the international order and on our values of living together, on democracy, freedom and self-determination. For this reason it is important and right that the Deutscher Bundestag pledged further aid to Ukraine last week.
