Status: 03/27/2022 1:15 p.m
At a solidarity concert for Ukraine, Federal President Steinmeier prepared the Germans for long-term restrictions. The Ukrainian ambassador Melnyk stayed away from the event in protest against Russian artists.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has prepared people in Germany for harder times as a result of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. The severe sanctions inevitably led to uncertainties and losses for us. “We are also facing harder days in Germany,” he said in a video message for a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic at Bellevue Palace, which was pre-recorded because of his corona disease.
We will have to be ready to wear them if our solidarity is not to be just lip service, if it is to be taken seriously.
Those days would change the world and change us too – “perhaps faster than we thought possible,” said Steinmeier. “And the whole truth is: there is still a lot of hardship ahead of us.” Despite all ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, the following applies: “Our solidarity and our support, our steadfastness, and our willingness to make restrictions will be required for a long time to come.”
Counter the fear
Steinmeier expressed his shock at what is happening in Ukraine. The reason for the solidarity concert was a “brutal, illegal and inhuman war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine”. The Federal President lamented the “more and more blind destruction, the targeted attacks on the civilian population”. “I know well that belief in freedom and democracy alone will not stop a tank. But I also know this: No tank can ever destroy this belief,” said Steinmeier.
No army, no regime of repression is stronger than the radiance of freedom and democracy in the hearts and minds of the people. Not in Ukraine, not here, nowhere.
Steinmeier emphasized that the fear of war, including in Germany, could be countered by people being able to defend themselves and be humanely, with the desire for peace and belief in freedom and democracy. “These are terrible days and weeks.”
Melnyk: “Not in the mood for ‘great Russian culture'”
The Ukrainian ambassador in Germany had announced that he did not want to take part in the solidarity concert. “Only Russian soloists, no Ukrainians,” tweeted Ambassador Andriy Melnyk. “An affront. Sorry, I’m staying away.”
Melnyk reacted to the reaction of the spokeswoman for the Federal President with a statement: “My dear God, why is it so difficult for the Federal President to realize that as long as Russian bombs are falling on cities and thousands of civilians are being murdered day and night, we Ukrainians are not in the mood for ‘ great Russian culture’. Basta.”
Works by Ukrainian, Russian and Polish composers were performed at the concert. Music was performed under the direction of conductor Nodoka Okisawa, who stepped in because the chief conductor of the Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko, was ill. In addition to the Berlin Philharmonic, the Russian star pianist Yevgeny Kissin also played.