Anna Tymoshenko, CEO of the NGO ‘Ukrainian Students for Freedom’, met with a member of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann during her working visit to Germany.

On March 29, Anna visited the Bundestag — German parliament, an essential constitutional and legislative body of Germany, which is engaged in preparing and adopting laws, the election of the federal chancellor and control over government activities.

About Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

• Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is a German politician, doctor of philosophy, member of the Free Democratic Party, chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Defense.

In one of the interviews on the NTV channel, Marie said that Angela Merkel is partially responsible for russia’s war against Ukraine.

As she said, the fact that Ukraine didn’t become a member of NATO was a big mistake Merkel and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy made when they promised Ukraine’s entry into the Alliance in 2008 to ‘not provoke russia’.

In May 2022, in the 4th month of the full-scale war, when heavy fighting was going on in the eastern and southern territories of Ukraine and Ukraine needed a lot of ammunition and military equipment, Marie spoke in support of this need. She accused the federal government of delaying too long the delivery of weapons to Ukraine. In July 2022, it called for directly supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine.

‘Germany should help Ukraine with weapons more and faster, otherwise it will face the consequences itself. If we continue to do so little in the affairs of Ukraine, then we will have to be responsible for historically important problems… If Ukraine loses, Europe will lose…’ the deputy wrote on her Twitter.

The main points from the meeting: what was discussed?

We discussed Ukraine’s past and how the Soviet Union, the establishment of independence, changes in power and the latest, the Revolution of Dignity, influenced our present. They also talked about the attitude of the German government regarding the war, about ideas and struggle, and the power of students and civil society.

Marie recalled how, in October 2022, she visited Ukraine and asserted that Ukraine should in no case go to peace talks with russia and cede territories, even if Bakhmut ends up under russian control:

‘Germany and the entire Western world should not incline Ukraine to such negotiations. It will be a weakness. Weakness is not the path we should choose.’

She said that Ukraine’s failure to join NATO was a complete mistake made by the Alliance member states in 2008.

‘Due to pressure from member states, russian propaganda and indecisive actions of Ukraine, we were considered part of russia’s influence. They did not want to see the latter in NATO. At the same time, Angela Merkel did not approve providing Ukraine with an Action Plan on Alliance membership. If Ukraine had gained membership, the vector of development of international relations would have been completely different, and the russian-Ukrainian war and the russian-Georgian wars would not have happened.’

We also spoke about our USF Heroes who were killed by russians at the front, about our public activity and how we are fighting for the liberalization of the economy. Furthermore, we touched on the topic of weapons.

Mrs. Strack-Zimmermann was right when she said that Ukraine is very different from 10 years ago and now: in social and political life, mentality, government, army, and plans for the future. These are the changes that took place and, in principle, should have taken place in order to harden the nation and move on to further changes. Step by step. She promised to continue supporting the pro-Ukrainian position in the Bundestag, advocating for the supply of weapons to our military and allocating billions of dollars to help Ukraine.

The deputy announced that the post-war aid plan also included funds from Germany and the West — to strengthen Ukraine’s defence sector and rebuild the destroyed territories.

Anna, the Head of the Organization, remembers the meeting with admiration:

‘Our meeting with Mrs. Strack-Zimmermann was very successful and productive. Mari really cheers for the victory of Ukraine: not only with words, but also with actions.

She said that Ukrainians should be helped to rebuild Ukraine, that everything should be done to bring back those who went abroad, to create comfortable living conditions and a foundation for a strong future of Ukraine. Marie mentioned that no matter which of the Ukrainians she meets, absolutely everyone wants to return home and live in a safe, free and successful country.

I am very happy to have the opportunity to represent Ukraine and our student movement at a meeting with a representative of the German government, to gain diplomatic experience at the international level, and also to participate in the development of Ukrainian-German relations.’

Anna also gave the deputy a letter:

Dear Mrs. Strack-Zimmermann,

On behalf of “Ukrainian Students for Freedom,” we thank you for the support of the Ukrainian people in defending its homeland and its dream of a freer future. Ukraine is fighting not only for preserving the territory but for the inherently European values – democracy, respect for human rights, and freedom of the individual.

A totalitarian regime and a democratic world cannot coexist. To overcome this totalitarianism and dictatorship from the East, it is necessary to help Ukraine in its struggle for freedom. Our brave defenders need more and appropriate weapons to withstand the enemy and stand tall at the border between the free world and the evil empire.

We thank Germany again for the tremendous help and ask you not to stop supplying us with the weapons and equipment to the front lines. Only with your help can our dream of a free future stay alive. Because good must overcome evil, and light must overcome darkness. Glory to Ukraine!

— Ukrainian Students for Freedom.

A totalitarian regime and a democratic world cannot coexist. To overcome this totalitarianism and dictatorship from the east, it is necessary to help Ukraine in this struggle; other countries — Belarus, Sakartvelo and Asian countries from economic and cultural ‘occupations’ will be freed from the regimes.

We are not only a country fighting for its freedom and territories, getting rid of everything planted by the Soviet Union and russia. We act as the front and rear between Europe, the Western world, and russia; therefore, we need more help from the international community. With such a message, the meeting between the deputy and the Chairman of the Security Council ended.

We are thankful to Mrs. Strack-Zimmermann for her support and to our German friends for the opportunity to organize this meeting!