Latest news with #RuthFirmenich
Russia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Two German MEPs to defy EU with Moscow visit
A group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including two Germans, are planning to travel to Moscow for a two-day visit to take part in Victory Day celebrations and send a message of peace, the German news agency dpa reported on Wednesday. The delegation will reportedly also include MEPs from the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and Slovakia. The visit will feature 'talks with [Russian] parliamentarians as well as politicians and cultural figures,' according to German MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich. The two MEPs, who represent the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), told dpa they wanted to express support for the unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine announced by Moscow. 'We also want to send a signal that we are committed to ensuring that the guns in Ukraine remain permanently silent,' they said. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral Victory Day truce, which took effect at midnight on May 7–8 and is expected to last until midnight on May 10–11. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the initiative as 'manipulation,' as Kiev intensified drone attacks on Russian cities, including Moscow. Separately, two other BSW politicians – former German MPs Klaus Ernst and Sevim Dagdelen – told Der Spiegel on Wednesday that they would attend a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The politicians said they wanted to demonstrate opposition to the 'falsification of history' and the demonization of Russia. 'Russia is not my enemy, and I don't feel threatened by or at war with Russia,' Dagdelen stated, describing the occasion as an opportunity for 'dialogue' and a 'new beginning in German-Russian relations.' Ernst told the paper they were also alarmed by 'the clearly visible signs of war preparations in Germany.' Their stance contrasts with that of official Berlin and Brussels. The German Foreign Ministry had earlier advised organizers against inviting Russian and Belarusian representatives to WWII commemorations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned in April that the bloc opposes any officials from member or candidate states attending Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Meanwhile, Berlin authorities have banned the display of Russian and Soviet flags and symbols during commemorations on May 8 and 9, according to local media.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Small group of MEPs to visit Moscow on Victory Day
A small group of members of the European Parliament, including two members of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, a pro-Russian far-left party in Germany, will be among the guests at the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.] Source: German news magazine Spiegel, as reported by European Pravda Details: Ruth Firmenich and Michael von der Schulenburg, MEPs and associates of Wagenknecht, announced they would participate in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and would be accompanied by three other MEPs from Czechia, Slovakia and Cyprus. While in Moscow, they intend to meet with members of the Russian parliament and other representatives of the political and cultural spheres. They stated their motive as being the desire "to overcome the growing spiral of confrontation and escalation in Europe". Firmenich and von der Schulenburg stated they plan to travel to Kyiv afterwards and have been in contact with the Ukrainian embassy regarding this. Ruth Firmenich is described as a close associate of Sahra Wagenknecht, having worked with her since 2004. When asked about her party members' trip to Moscow, Wagenknecht said she saw nothing scandalous in it. Quote from Wagenknecht: "They are going to Moscow to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the 80th anniversary of liberation. I don't know what there is to criticise about that. They will not be taking part in the military parade or any similar state events." Background: In February, Wagenknecht refused to answer a question about whether she was glad that Ukraine still existed as a state despite three years of full-scale war and numerous losses. She also stated that German industry – and the European economy in general – "has no chance" without cheap energy resources from Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
