It was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s second speech to the German parliament. The first was in the winter of 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion and the historic German Zeitenwende. Then via video. Today, live in the Plenary, where he went immediately after the joint press conference with Chancellor Olaf Solz at the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which is being held these days in Berlin under strict security measures.

“Thank you Germany!” he said to applause from German MPs, the chancellor, top ministers, Bundestag president Berbel Bass and German president Frank Walter-Steinmeier. “Ukraine’s future lies within the EU and NATO,” Berbel Bass said, once again today sending a message of undivided support for Kiev’s efforts.

“The time for compromises has passed. Russia must pay the price for all the damage it has caused (…) Russia is leaving behind hundreds of cemeteries,” he emphasized from the floor of the German parliament, saying that “there are no Walls that cannot fall.” A reference to the history of divided Berlin but also to the new “Walls” that Russia is trying to build in Ukraine. “Russia destroyed Grozny and Aleppo, divided Moldova and brought Belarus to its knees. It is in everyone’s common interest that Putin be defeated.”

Resounding abstention from AfD and BSW

Zelensky’s historic speech, as characterized by Bild, was overshadowed by the resounding absence of the Alternative for Germany parliamentary group except for four MPs, who remained in the Plenary Chamber without applauding and by the “boycott” of the speech by MPs who broke away from the Left and joined Sarah Wagenknecht’s Alliance BSW. Both parties now have the air of “winners” after the European elections: the Alternative for Germany emerged as the second political force in Germany with 15.9% and the newly formed leftist Alliance of Sarah Wagenknecht with 6%.

The heads of the Alternative for Germany as well as K.O. they severely criticized Zelensky’s presence in the German parliament of “the president in camouflage”, as they describe him. “Zelensky’s term has ended. He remains in office only as a war president and a beggar.” He is not a “president of peace”, they said in a message explaining the reasons for their absence. It should be noted that the presidential elections in Ukraine have been postponed due to the current martial law. Previously, BSW also argued that Zelensky is promoting escalation while ignoring the nuclear risk it poses to the whole of Europe.

However, for his part, Volodymyr Zelensky warned today from Berlin both Germany and Europe about the danger from the rise of far-right and pro-Russian forces after Sunday’s European elections.

Rebuilding Ukraine now

Meanwhile, the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine is in full swing at the Berlin Exhibition grounds with a total of 2,000 participants from politics, business and civil society. In the spotlight on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday is Ukraine’s energy sector, which has suffered the most serious damage so far, as well as investments.

According to data presented by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denis Shmyhal, Ukraine needs annual investments from 10 to 30 billion dollars and this over a decade in order to reconstruct its economy. The interesting fact is, however, that despite the war, in the first quarter of 2024, the Ukrainian economy grew by 4.4%, presenting an interesting dynamic.

However, earlier in the morning the EU also offered new, short-term financial aid of 1.9 billion euros to Ukraine, as well as about 1.5 billion in July, which will come from interest income on frozen Russian assets in the West. Exactly this topic is expected to be on the agenda of the upcoming G7 in the Italian Puglia.

“Greece supports the reconstruction of Ukraine”

Greece also participates in the Conference represented by the Minister of Development Kostas Skrekas, who is accompanied by the General Secretary of Private Investments Vassiliki Loizou, the Ambassador of Greece in Berlin Mara Marinakis and the special envoy of Greece for Ukraine Spyros Lampridis. Representatives of Greek companies operating in Ukraine also participate in the Conference.

In his message broadcast live by the German organization, like all “national messages” for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Kostas Skrekas mentioned, among other things, regarding Greek assistance in the future reconstruction of Ukraine:

“Greece, with its partners and allies, will continue to steadily contribute to the joint effort to rebuild Ukraine, within the framework of its capabilities, of course. We are particularly interested in developing business prospects and synergies in a range of strategic sectors such as construction, transport, renewable energy, pharmaceutical and medical, new technologies, research and innovation. Of course, the contribution of our shipping, the Greek-owned fleet, but also our infrastructure, both in energy and in transport, is critical.”