"Peace is not for granted"

Created: 02/26/2022, 19:08

By: Susanne Greiner

A sign of solidarity with Ukraine: Representatives of all democratic parties and around 250 citizens came to today's vigil on Landsberg's main square.

© Markus Müller-Hahl

Landsberg - Peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted.

War has been raging since Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

Germany's "politically tied hands" said CSU member of parliament Alex Dorow at today's vigil on the main square.

But it is important to “show the flag”.

Member of the German Bundestag Michael Kießling initiated it.

Representatives of all democratic parties and around 250 citizens came - to show their solidarity with Ukraine.

It was a shock for his wife, said Mario Wiegert from Kaufering at today's vigil.

She comes from the Ukraine, seven of her siblings still live there, near Chernobyl.

"We get reports every minute, it's very bad." At the moment, the Ukrainians have the upper hand again in the area.

"Nobody wants to go back to Russia there." The Ukrainians fought for democratic values ​​- "and actually for us too." He hopes for more than sympathy from Germany: "It's also about saving us."

In his speech, Dorow described Putin as a “president gone mad” who follows his “postcolonial pain”, a “very dangerous feeling”, as you can see now.

The Ukrainian government is democratically elected and must be defended.

In addition, one must give the Eastern countries the opportunity to determine for themselves “where they belong”.

The current protest is explicitly directed against the Russian leadership, not against Russia itself and above all not against the people in Russia.

According to Dorow, numerous people have already fled Ukraine.

"And we will be there when we are needed." District Administrator Thomas Eichinger (CSU) had previously called on the district citizens in a video to get in touch if they had the opportunity to accommodate refugees.

"The fact that there is war in Europe again is hard to bear," said Gabriele Triebel, member of the state parliament for the Greens.

Putin's attack is a blatant breach of international law.

The Russian demonstrators, who risked a lot with their protest, deserve their "greatest respect".

The sanctions against Russia "we will feel," she concluded.

Landsberg's third mayor Felix Bredschneijder (SPD) spoke about the previously abstract term "war", the meaning of which has not yet "got down to my bones".

So far he has taken peace in Europe as a matter of course.

Now, at the "war on our doorstep," he is overcome with trepidation.

And the realization that peace unfortunately cannot be taken for granted.

In this war against elementary values, he is gripped by anger and the feeling of "the need to put myself

to put that in its place.” He fears that you have to show your forehead.

"It will hurt, but a limit has been reached that must not be crossed."

Birgit Kerckhoff spoke for the FDP.

For her, the situation was "unbelievable", her throat was tightened.

She criticized Germany's hesitant stance on restricting Russia's Swift payment system: one has to ask oneself which hurts more, a blow to the wallet or a war?

(Editor's note: Germany recently agreed to Russia's restrictions on Swift).

Christoph Jell spoke as a representative of the UBV and also as a representative of Mayor Doris Baumgartl.

She was on her way to vacation before Kießling called the vigil.

Kießling announced the vigil just yesterday.

Thomas Bihler, Chairwoman of the Munich Airport Association, also had a say.

On Thursday, 40 tons of relief supplies will be brought to the Polish-Ukrainian border, including more than 100 first-aid kits, which came together with the Landsberger Tagblatt at the vigil after a call from the association.

Bihler also reported that queues at the border were already more than 20 kilometers long.

Above all, women with their children can be seen, "the men have to fight".

At the end, the city pastor Michael Zeitler, deacon Thomas Grünwald from the Holy Angel representing Gregory Herzel and pastor Siegfried Martin from the Evangelical Church of Christ interceded.

In the parish church there had already been a prayer for peace at noon.

Even after the vigil, several people were in the church praying.