Address in the German Parliament - Volodymyr Zelensky expresses gratitude towards Germany.
The atmosphere has radically changed. The Ukrainian president hasn't uttered a word yet, and you can already feel that this time things will be distinct.
He starts his speech to the German parliament by thanking everyone present, "because humanity's compassion has a place in your hearts." The parliament hall is brimming with attendees, but the Left Party hasn't shown up for Zelenskyy's appearance. Only four MPs from the AfD attended, followed by numerous empty blue chairs.
Germany hasn't been absent, Zelenskyy points out.
The representatives of the constitutional bodies are seated in front of him, surrounded by three bouquets of flowers in the Ukrainian colors blue and yellow. Among them are the Bundestag President and the Federal Chancellor, both of whom have had a difficult history with the Ukrainian president. One because of their prior Russia policy as Foreign Minister, the other for their allegedly cautious aid efforts in the early stages of the war. Manuela Schwesig is present, too, the acting President of the Bundesrat, who once supported the gas pipeline Nordstream II and maintained questionable contacts with Russia for that reason.
Nonetheless, these issues may have been overlooked this time. Zelenskyy says sincerely, "Thank you, Germany."
The second parliamentary address - the first in person
The visit to Berlin on this Tuesday marks a milestone for Zelenskyy. He is physically present for the first time at the Bundestag. Three weeks after the Russian invasion, he spoke to the MPs via video from Kiev. In his speech on March 17, 2022, his gratitude was minimal, but he leveled numerous accusations against Germany. He criticized the economic relations with Russia, "a state," as he had said then, "which simply uses you and many other nations to fund the war."
Zelenskyy then perceived Germans as stuck behind an ever-growing wall. He referred to the missing weapons exports to Ukraine and too weak economic sanctions against Russia. He asked MPs and government, "What is the historical responsibility of Germany 80 years after World War II worth?" He didn't receive any reply.
Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellor, sat on the government bench and listened without expression. The plenary chamber applauded after the speech, but there was no response, no debate. The Vice President of the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckart, came under criticism because she proceeded to the next item on the agenda right away. The next topic was compulsory vaccination.
This time, everything is different. "A divided Europe was never peaceful, a divided Germany was never happy," says the president. So, Ukrainians can comprehend why they don't want to be split up. Those Ukrainians whose relatives are still on the battlefields deserve respectful treatment at the war's end. The one who instigated the turmoil must be made to answer. Russia must compensate for the damage. There must be no destruction left, asserts Zelenskyy. To achieve this, Russian funds must be employed. Putin set out on a path of killing, not of negotiations. We ought not to let Russia advance any further in Europe. It's in our mutual benefit that Putin fails personally.
Zelenskyy brings up the iconic image of a wall, which is particularly relevant for speeches to the Germans. He employs it with a positive connotation this time:
"No wall is impervious to collapse."
Zelenskyy recounts that nobody thought the Berlin Wall would fall so swiftly. Change and peace are achievable: "There are no walls that cannot come down," Zelenskyy emphasizes.
Nobody foresaw how long Ukraine could endure the conflict, he continues. This would have been possible due to the aid of Germany and other allies. He points out explicitly the Patriot missiles from Germany, which "saved countless lives." For this, he expresses his appreciation, and he cheers himself on at the podium toward his listeners.
"We want to give diplomacy a chance," promises Zelenskyy with a smile, alluding to the upcoming conferences on Ukraine and the G7 summit in Italy, where he is expected to attend as a guest. We must collaborate together, and Ukraine "should join the European security community" - a term for two organizations: the European Union and NATO.
One can sense that it will take some time. Even Zelenskyy is aware of this. However, in this moment, harmony trumps differences. The applause following the speech is heartwarming. The Germans seem almost relaxed that it was different this time.
