Berlin Meeting: Remembering and Supporting Ukraine
A significant meeting took place in Berlin involving the Deputy Mayor of Odesa, Pavlo Vugelman, and the head of the regional association of Jewish former ghetto prisoners, Roman Schwartzman, with the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The Odesa delegation visited Germany to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Very few witnesses of the horrors experienced during National Socialism are still alive today.
Roman Schwartzman, one of the survivors, shared his survival story from World War II and discussed the Soviet regime's attitude toward Jews and life in modern Ukraine.
“I am sincerely grateful to you and the German Bundestag for the opportunity to share my story and honor the memory of those we lost. Your support for Ukraine and Odesa is tremendously significant to me,” said Roman Schwartzman.
During the meeting, current issues were discussed, including the situation in Odesa, the importance of preserving memory, and Ukraine's needs for protecting civilians and infrastructure, as well as reclaiming its territories.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured that Germany would support Ukraine in this horrific war, emphasizing that democracy also needs protection today.
