Wife of Kiev Mayor
Natalia Klitschko: “Russian mothers will never forgive their government”
Natalia Klitschko has brought her children to safety in Hamburg. The photo shows her almost two weeks ago at a demonstration against the Ukraine war in the Hanseatic city.
© Picture Alliance
Natalia Klitschko currently lives in Hamburg with her children – and feels guilty because she is safe. The wife of the mayor of Kiev spoke about this in an interview.
War has been raging in her Ukrainian homeland for three weeks: the wife of Kiev’s mayor Vitali Klitschko says she feels guilty because, as a Ukrainian, she is safe in Hamburg with her children. “The first week of the war was very bad for all of us,” Natalia Klitschko told the editorial network Germany (RND) on Wednesday. “Our children were very afraid for their dad.”
Klitschko and her children are trying to maintain normal life in Germany despite the war in Ukraine, she said. “But the feeling of guilt remains. You feel guilty because you are safe here and the people we love are in Ukraine and are fighting for us,” said Klitschko.
Natalia Klitschko also thinks of the young people in Russia who are being sent into battle
The 48-year-old thinks it’s terrible how many young people on both sides have to take up arms. “I don’t think Russian mothers will ever forgive their government for that.”
According to Klitschko, the great willingness to help in Germany is partly due to the fear of a third world war. “Many Europeans are now aware that if this doesn’t stop in Ukraine, any country can be next. Anyone who fights and dies there for Ukraine dies not only for their country, but also for Europe.”
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is now in its fourth week, and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was shelled again on Thursday. Mayor Klitschko had already announced a 35-hour curfew for the metropolis on Tuesday, which is fiercely defending itself against the Russian attack.
In a video address to members of the Bundestag on Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for more help for his country. People in Ukraine want to live freely and not submit to another country, Zelenskyy said.
See the video: Germany gets more than half of its gas from Russia and is looking for alternative suppliers against the background of the invasion of Ukraine.