Dear people of Aachen,
The unthinkable has happened for all of us: there is war in Europe! Thank you very much for following the call of the city and a broad alliance. Welcome to the Aachener Markt.
We here in Aachen stand together for democracy and self-determination. This makes the news of the invasion of Russian troops and the declaration of war against the Ukrainian people all the more shocking. I am not talking explicitly about Russia's attack. It is President Putin who is putting his expansionist ambitions above human lives. Not the Russian people.
Our country, our city, is not prepared for war. We are overwhelmed by behavior that seems to have fallen out of time. For decades, we have believed in peace through diplomacy and cooperation, trusted in it and built a strong Europe out of deep conviction.
President Putin's war of aggression is a massive violation of international law and Ukraine's right to self-determination. The people of Ukraine have a democratically elected government; they have decided to go their own way independently of Russia. The voice of this people must be respected.
Europe's strength is the community that was built on the ruins of the Second World War. The attack on Ukraine is also an attack on us, on what we believe in wholeheartedly: our fundamental values and the European idea.
We, here in the border triangle, know from our everyday lives what Europe means. We must do everything in our power to defend these values.
I am relieved that the European governments are showing cohesion in this current crisis and are taking decisive action against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Here in front of the city hall, which was rebuilt after the Second World War, we are also taking a firm stand as Europeans and as citizens against war and violence. Last weekend, on the fringes of the Munich Security Conference, I had the opportunity to speak with one of this year's Charlemagne Prize winners, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a leading representative of the opposition in Belarus. It became very clear once again that democracy cannot be taken for granted; democracy must always be consolidated and filled with life.
The current situation is also a reminder to ourselves: It is a permanent task to stand up for what we seem to take for granted. For our values and our ideals.
The flags that have been hanging from our town hall since yesterday are intended to send a strong signal: the flags of democracy and freedom are flying in Aachen. We continue to stand resolutely for peace in Europe, with the weapons of dialog and humanity. We are also taking a stand against the inhumanity of Putin's aggression.
The price of wars driven by power politics is high: human lives and the immeasurable suffering of victims are at stake, on both sides of the borders.
"Never again war!" - Our parents and grandparents have left us this demand as a legacy and yet it seems as if history is repeating itself at this point. The images that reach us today from Kiev and other Ukrainian cities are hard to bear. They remind us of our country's darkest hours.
The peace movement in our country is strong. For us, the demand in the past, now and at all times is: "Never again war!" Nothing has changed in this respect, even if Putin makes irrational claims that he is invading Ukraine to protect the separatist groups. He must not win with this.
We are standing here together and are somewhat powerless in the face of this incomprehensible breach of international law. Our thoughts are with the people of Eastern Europe, the children, women, men, grandmothers and grandfathers. We will raise our voices until peace is restored in Europe.
We are a safe haven. Our doors are open to people fleeing war zones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
Sibylle Keupen
Lord Mayor of Aachen
25.02.2022
18.11.2022