The German nation has done a unique job of acknowledging the horrific crimes of its past, but it is not noticeable that the Germans are acknowledging the truth of their present, because they allow war crimes of the Kremlin in Ukraine. Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk wrote about this in his article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the mass shooting of Ukrainian Jews by German soldiers in Babyn Yar was held in the fall of 2021 at the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center in Kyiv, Pinchuk recalled. Among the speakers was the President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who, in particular, said: "If the evil demons of the past will appear today in new clothes, there for us, Germans, can be only one answer: never again! The struggle must be continued".
"But I don’t see Germany today as a country "never again!" - stated the author of the article.
For more than a month, Germans have been observed in real time how russia attacked a peaceful Ukraine, bombed and killed civilians, starving them to death in blockaded cities. According to Pinchuk, the mass shootings of Ukrainians even visually resemble the shootings in Babyn Yar.
Germany imposes sanctions against russia, provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine and supplies weapons, but at the same time blocks the complete shutdown of russian banks from SWIFT, doesn’t want to immediately impose an embargo on Russian oil, coal and gas, and delays delivery of heavy weapons needed by Ukraine.
"I understand that in order to be able to do the right thing tomorrow, Germany needs to stay afloat. I am a realist. But "never again!" means more than just speaking out against the swastika. This means fighting by all possible means against mass murder, genocide, war crimes and atrocities. Today, I think that Germany must do everything possible. And Germany must take risks. There is no easy way without risks and sacrifices to defeat evil and stop the atrocities taking place in Ukraine," said the Ukrainian businessman.
In an effort to prevent losses for its economy, Germany has allowed "evil to become too strong," Pinchuk said.
"You've made a lot of money this way, and I guess it's quite honest. But that's why today, because of your history, the history of Nazism and your recent earnings, I think it would be right if you step up and admit that your conscientiousness was inappropriate and costs people's lives today, and this implies a special responsibility to sacrifice and take risks," he said.
Pinchuk raises questions about what the Germans are waiting for - whether new missile strikes, or the death of thousands Ukrainians from hunger and thirst, or russia's use of chemical or nuclear weapons.
"Until you decide what to do, I offer a new template for future speeches by high-ranking German politicians. Say no more: "For us Germans, there can be only one answer: never again!" Say: "For us Germans, only one answer: hopefully not so soon again! Or, if something happens, we will definitely discuss ways to help, if it is possible without too much loss for us," - stated the patron.
As a Ukrainian Jew who "previously believed in a new Germany," Pinchuk admits that the Germans have done "a unique job of acknowledging the horrific crimes of their past," but he does not see "the Germans acknowledging the truth of their present".
"Today you are responsible. You allow war crimes. 80 years after the Nazi genocide in Ukraine, you are not doing everything possible to stop the genocide perpetrated by the russians. It's not "Never again!" And that's not enough, - he addressed the German nation. - I can only sincerely ask you to act with the necessary urgency, to do everything to stop the russian troops. And thus show: it’s not so that the Germans find something more important than defending freedom and life against oppression and death.
According to Pinchuk, it is quite real to implement the slogan "never again!"