Ukraine war
Emotional speech: Vitali Klitschko calls on Germany to end economic relations with Russia
STORY: A tightened curfew was in force in Kyiv until Wednesday morning, decreed by Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Further rocket attacks were reported, also on the Ukrainian capital. Around four weeks after the start of the Russian invasion, there is currently no end in sight to the war. Mayor Klitschko attended the Munich City Council meeting on Wednesday, unsurprisingly only virtually. Kyiv is one of eight cities with which Munich has a partnership. Klitschko emphasized that neutrality is not an option in the current situation. “You can’t be half pregnant and one side supports Ukraine, and the other side stay friendly with Russia and also have good relations. As always today, it’s black and white. You will either involve Ukraine and democratic values - or you will stand up the side of the aggressor. Every politician has to understand all this. It’s a matter of life and death today.” The former professional boxer said Russia was at war with civilians and asked for support for the Ukrainians’ fight. “Because every day I see dead women, children, civilians in my hometown. And we have to stop the war together as soon as possible. And we have to fight together for peace in Europe. Because the fight is not against Ukraine, that’s the fight against European values.” Although fighting continues in many places, Russian forces have still not been able to take control of any of the larger cities. More than ten million people in the former Soviet republic are on the run.
In a live broadcast with the Munich city council, Vitali Klitschko calls the Russian war of aggression a “genocide”. He appealed to Germany to take a clear position and break off economic relations with Russia.
In a moving speech, Kiev’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko addressed the Munich City Council. “Every morning before I get up, before I open my eyes, I think it’s all a nightmare,” Klitschko said live. “I open my eyes and see: It’s a hard reality, very hard reality.”
The Ukrainian capital is under constant fire from missiles that are killing “every human life within a 500-meter radius,” he said. According to him, there should no longer be several neighboring cities. Russia’s attacks would not target the military, but the population. “They are destroying the civilian population, they are destroying our country,” emphasized the 50-year-old. He cannot say how many Ukrainians have fallen victim to the war so far: “We cannot count the bodies.”
“We also fight for you, for every German”
Klitschko called the Russian war of aggression a “genocide” and declared that Ukrainians will not give up in the fight “against one of the strongest armies in the world, the Russian army”. “We’d rather die than let the aggressors into the city,” he said.
At the same time, the ex-professional boxer emphasizes that it is not known what plans Russia is pursuing. “We fight for you too, for every German.” He appealed to Germany to sever all economic ties with Russia, even if that was difficult. After all, Russia is investing “every euro and every cent” in the army. He also called on all German politicians to take a clear position: “Either you are on the side of Ukraine or on the side of the aggressor,” said Klitschko. “You can’t be half pregnant.”
Klitschko ended the live broadcast after about 40 minutes with the words “I have to go”. The north of Kiev is said to have been bombed again.
swell: BRdpa