International Representatives Depart in Protest Over Russian Speech Delivered at Geneva Meetings
German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner Walks Out of World Conference in Protest Against Russia's Actions in Ukraine
In a powerful show of solidarity, German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and other European Union (EU) lawmakers walked out during the speech of Valentina Matviyenko, President of the Russian Federation Council, at the World Conference of Parliamentary Presidents in Geneva.
The walkout was a joint action by EU delegations, aimed at protesting against Russia's ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. Klöckner, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, made it clear that she will not give any attention to the Russian delegation's attempts to rewrite history or shift blame.
During the general debate of the conference, Klöckner reaffirmed her support for Ukraine, stating that they remain firmly on the side of the country. She emphasized that civilian infrastructure in Ukraine is being deliberately targeted, which she described as terrorism against the Ukrainian population.
Klöckner also reiterated her stance on Russia's actions in Ukraine, stating that Russia's attack on Ukraine is a violation of international law. She strongly denounced the "cynical attempts to distort history and reverse the roles of perpetrator and victim" and expressed that the law of the jungle should not prevail.
The Bundestag, the German federal parliament, announced on Wednesday that the walkout was a clear stance against Russia's aggression. Other EU leaders present also expressed refusal to be complicit in what they described as lies supporting the Kremlin’s criminal regime. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called Russia's invitation to the conference "disgraceful," and some officials characterized the inclusion of Russian delegates at the peace-promoting conference as “appeasement of the aggressor” and “hypocrisy.”
The World Conference of Parliamentary Presidents, held in Geneva, is an annual event that brings together parliamentary leaders from around the world to discuss global issues and promote peace. The walkout by Klöckner and other EU delegations was a symbolic act demonstrating EU parliamentary opposition to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and disapproval of Russia's official representatives legitimizing that conflict on the international stage.
- The walkout by Julia Klöckner, President of the German Bundestag, and other EU lawmakers at the World Conference was a response to Russia's actions in war-and-conflicts, particularly its ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
- The general debate at the World Conference was dominated by politics, as European Union leaders strongly denounced Russia's actions in Ukraine, calling for an end to its violation of international law and distortion of history.
