Ukraine, Kupiansk: A woman walks past a building that was destroyed in an attack.
(Photo: dpa)
Dusseldorf “I thought Putin wouldn’t start a war in the middle of Europe, he can’t be that stupid – wrong thought,” one reader describes his thoughts a year ago, when Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began. Since this has now lasted a year, we asked the Handelsblatt readers, among other things, what memories they had of the beginning of the war.
One reader sums up his experience as follows: “First thing in the morning in the Berlin hotel was reading the online newspaper, everything quiet, shower, TV on and the war started.” There was dead silence in the breakfast room, it was “scary”. What is reflected in numerous letters is disbelief and shock. Another reader writes that February 24th was his birthday until last year. “Until the end of my life this joy will remain clouded by Russia’s war of aggression.”
We also asked the Handelsblatt readers how Ukraine should be further supported. Some plead above all for further military aid: “Ukraine must continue to be supported with the best equipment, mainly from Germany, according to the motto ‘Don’t mess around, make big’,” writes one reader. Another calls for the defense industry to ramp up faster.
“But just delivering weapons without pushing for negotiations seems too little, too easy to me,” says another reader. A reader takes a similar view: “Wars were last decided on the battlefield in the Middle Ages. Today, a war always ends in peace negotiations around the big table.” That is why, in her opinion, negotiations should start now.
For a reader, the visible cohesion in the democracies of the western world has changed as a result of the war. This gives him hope for the future. Another hopes that a realistic assessment will now prevail in Germany as far as economic dependencies and their risks are concerned.
We have put together a selection for you from the letters from the Handelsblatt readers.
There was dead silence in the breakfast room
“On February 23 we had a business dinner in Berlin, the people were very nice, we had a nice evening, but there was a lot of speculation about whether there would be war or not. At the next table, judging by the talk, there were ‘insiders’ who knew full well that Putin wasn’t doing this.
On February 24, 2022 we laid the foundation stone for a new office building of 1000 square meters and two halls with 2400 square meters for production and storage in Gotha in Thuringia. First thing in the morning in the Berlin hotel, read the online newspaper, everything is quiet, shower, turn on the TV and the war has started. Dead silence in the breakfast room, all the guests looked at their cell phones, wrote messages to their families, friends and acquaintances, it was eerie.
On the journey from Berlin to Gotha for the groundbreaking ceremony, goosebumps were heard on the radio about the new ‘That was before the war’. I had enough time to imagine what that could mean.”
Bernd Neupert
Wars these days end at the negotiating table
“Ukraine needs help, but help in peacemaking, not heavier weapons. Wars were decided on the battlefield for the last time in the Middle Ages. Today a war always ends in peace negotiations at the big table.
So why not these negotiations now, because they have to come at some point? Why only at some point when countless people have died, been injured, been bombed out and traumatized?
It is always easy and irresponsible when here, in Germany, which is still safe at the moment, an unrealistic victory for the Ukraine is demanded and one does not see one’s own life and house in danger. It seems to me that many see war as an exciting alternative to the computer games they play. Should all those who continue to support the war buy such a game rather than continue to send others to war by expressing their opinions.”
Cornelia Altmeyer
Sticking to maximum positions is counterproductive
“A good compromise is characterized by both sides crying and at the same time being happy about what has been achieved and feeling like a negotiation winner. Remaining on maximum positions and demanding unrealistic preconditions is counterproductive. As is almost always the case, it is the ordinary people who pay the bill for this heroic stubbornness, be it the Ukrainian population or simple Russian soldiers.
In the Middle East and elsewhere one can study where hardened ‘I’m right’ positions lead: to unbearable suffering of the civilian population, women, children and the elderly first of all!
Nevertheless, the military stalemate must be maintained! But just delivering weapons without pushing for negotiations seems too little, too easy to me!”
Rolf Rimbach
Great fear
“On February 24th, my husband and I were on our way from Upper Swabia to Lower Bavaria to visit our daughter, who is studying in Passau. The car radio was on for the four-hour drive there, it was sunny and we were full of anticipation.
Every half hour, the news suddenly broke out about an attack on Ukraine and the first hostilities with destruction by Russia. I was in tears all the time and I was very afraid that we would be drawn into a war, since NATO was being talked about again and again. On the other hand, my thoughts were that it would all be over before long.
When we got to the hotel, we immediately turned on the TV and watched the endless reports about it.”
Marlene Baumeister
>> Read also: “Putin’s end will come sooner rather than later” – The big interview with ex-oligarch Khodorkovsky
Two insights
“The war did not start on February 21 or February 24, 2022, but eight years earlier if you assess all the facts. To be honest, I only learned this when a half-Ukrainian family moved in with us for a few weeks in March 2022. I learned two things from the war:
On the one hand, it amazes me how incompetent we have been in terms of our own safety across society and that within a year we still haven’t pulled the trigger. The Ukrainians are paying the price in blood.
In economic policy, on the other hand, we can plan globally for the long term. In a crisis, we react incredibly quickly and completely convert our entire energy supply in ten months. We pay the price with inflation.
We live a good life on the backs of others and are only partially aware of it.”
Sven Jaush
Unfortunately, the first anniversary will probably not be the last
“At the moment, Ukraine needs one thing above all: military equipment.
The Ukraine war has made it painfully clear that Europe has allowed itself to be blinded by the blessings of the peace dividend for too long. The result is empty ammunition stores and a lack of military equipment, from flak jackets to battle tanks.
If you want to help Ukraine, you have to ramp up the defense industry faster. German industry must take on this challenge together. This is the only way Ukraine can continue to defy military aggression, because unfortunately the first anniversary of the war will probably not be the last.”
Holger Rabbe
Don’t spill, but clog
“On the day of the attack, I was just amazed at how Russia, with around 150,000 soldiers, wants to subdue the entire country of Ukraine. The course of events so far also shows the operational incompetence of the Russian armed forces, including their military leadership.
The Ukraine must continue to be supported with the best equipment, mainly from Germany, according to the motto ‘Don’t mess around, make big things’.
For me, the visible cohesion in the democracies of the western world has changed positively as a result of this war. That gives me hope for the future.”
Robert Gareissen
Realistic view of economic relations
“Russia’s attack on Ukraine made it particularly clear to the Germans that economic relations cannot prevent a megalomaniacal dictator from living out his lust for power. Cost what it may.
My hope is that our belief (or our desperate hope?) that we can bring about ‘change through trade’ has now come to an end, particularly in view of China’s great power fantasies, and is giving way to a realistic assessment of the risks. In the current war, Germany must do everything possible, together with its EU and NATO allies, to strengthen Ukraine to the point where it is able to completely throw Russian troops out of its own country. This includes deliveries of all kinds of material, i.e. weapons, ammunition and relief supplies, but also financial support for maintaining and rebuilding the infrastructure.
Such international cohesion is important not only to put Putin and his murderous gang in their place, but also to show other countries like China that the world does not stand idly by when atrocities and war crimes are committed.”
Roland Stamm
This is getting serious, very serious!
“I will never forget: 150,000 Russians were deployed for the maneuver, so I knew it was going to be serious, very serious! So almost as many soldiers as the Bundeswehr has in total took part in the ‘manoeuvre’.
Suddenly I realized how close Ukraine is. I thought Putin wouldn’t start a war in the middle of Europe, he can’t be that stupid – wrong thought!”
Christian Gruber
spoiled the birthday
“February 24th has been my personal happy day for 63 years, my birthday. Until the end of my life this joy will remain clouded by Russia’s war of aggression. Burdened by the humanitarian catastrophe for the people of Ukraine and global humanity.
We are all against war and the suppression of democracy. The fastest possible, increased, targeted military support for Ukraine and parallel peace negotiations with the dictator Putin must put an immediate end to the insane bloodshed. Only then can peace and joy return on February 24.”
Markus Heldt
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