Frankie Fires Back: Steinmeier Slams Russia's "Fictitious History" at May 8th Speech
Russian historical fabrications to be denounced by Steinmeier in his speech on May 8th - Steinmeier to Refute Russian "Misrepresentations of History" in his Speech on May 8th
Get ready for some fireworks in Berlin! On Thursday, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is taking center stage at the Bundestag, ready to serve 'em up a piping hot serving of truth to the Russians. His speech has been a real labor of love, with preparations taking months of intense work, according to the Federal Presidential Office.
With Ukraine's anniversary looming and tensions!, things have been a bit tough to nail down, causing quite the headache during the planning process. But Steinmeier's got his game-face on, ready to shoot down Russia's bizarre interpretation of their attack on Ukraine as an ongoing fight against fascism. Ooh-wee! The Kremlin leadership is gonna be squirming in their seats when they hear this!
Steinmeier's gonna say it loud and clear: "There's no war against Ukraine that's a continuation of the fight against fascism!" Yep, that's right—no Nazi wannabes in Kyiv, as far as he's concerned. Instead, this is all about Putin's insane power grab, with absolutely zilch to do with the fight against Hitler's tyranny during World War II. He's gonna call it a "historical fiction" sailing on the waves of "imperial madness, grave injustice, and heinous crimes."
But that's not all. Steinmeier's gonna remind everyone that millions of Ukrainians fought alongside the Red Army against the Nazis, and the liberation of Auschwitz belongs to 'em, too. By telling it like it is, Steinmeier's gonna stand up against the Kremlin's histrionics.
Now, the memorial event? The Bundesdag ain't gonna let the Russian ambassador anywhere near it. Steinmeier's pleased about that decision.
In addition to Putin-bashing, Steinmeier's gonna tackle a couple more themes: the United States pulling away from the values community and the foundations of international law. From Steinmeier's speech manuscript, it sounds like he's gunning for the American breach of values. He's also gonna take on the rise of radical right and nationalist forces in Germany and elsewhere.
Did someone say AfD? Steinmeier's gotta face 'em twice as tough now—the faction's doubled in size since the last election and is the largest opposition in the Bundestag. But Steinmeier ain't afraid to call 'em out, even if he won't drop their names.
Last but definitely not least, Steinmeier needs us to remember the lessons of our German history—if we ignore 'em, we might have to learn 'em the hard way all over again. Isolationism, aggressive nationalism, and disdain for democratic institutions? That train ain't nobody wants to board!
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the war's end, the two major churches in Germany are stressing their shared responsibility to preserve democracy. The 8th of May is a day of liberation, of a "new and better era," says EKD Council Chair Kirsten Fehrs and Chair of the German Bishop's Conference, Georg Bätzing, in a joint statement.
And what about Left Party founder Sahra Wagenknecht? She's asking Chancellor Merz (CDU) to jet off to Moscow for the big victory celebration over Nazis. She thinks it'd be a nice gesture, a "fitting mark of respect and gratitude" and a chance for Germany to "assert itself as a diplomatic force to mediate."
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Russia
- Germany
- Bundestag
- Kremlin
- Ukraine
- Auschwitz
- Anniversary
- Federal President
- Nazi Germany
- National Socialism
- Red Army
- Left Party
- Berlin
- World War II
- Crimes
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of Germany, will deliver a speech at the Bundestag in Berlin on Thursday, where he is expected to challenge Russia's distorted history regarding Ukraine and the fight against fascism.
- Steinmeier will highlight the fact that Nazi Germany is not present in Ukraine and that the conflict is a power grab by Putin, not a continuation of the fight against Nazi tyranny during World War II, which he will categorize as a "historical fiction."
- The Kremlin leadership will likely feel uncomfortable during Steinmeier's speech, especially when he underscores the fact that millions of Ukrainians fought alongside the Red Army against the Nazis, including at the liberation of Auschwitz.
- Besides addressing Russia's falsified historical accounts, Steinmeier will discuss the United States pulling away from shared values and the foundation of international law, as well as the rise of radical right and nationalist forces in Germany and elsewhere, such as the AfD.
- In a joint statement, the leaders of the two major churches in Germany have emphasized their shared responsibility to preserve democracy, underscoring that the 8th of May, the anniversary of the end of World War II, represents a new and better era for the country after the lessons learned from German history.
