World | Deutsche Welle
· collected 2026-08-27 · by Mykola Berdnyk
analysis
Johannes Volkmann, 29-year-old member of Germany's parliament and chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, believes that aid to Ukraine is not charity but a crucial investment in European security. He points out that Germany is the largest bilateral donor to Ukraine in Europe, and supports his stance by highlighting the country's growing capabilities as a provider of security in Europe. Volkmann argues that every euro invested in Ukraine helps protect Europe from Russian imperialism, which poses a threat not just to Ukraine's borders but also to those of neighboring countries like Poland and the Baltic states. According to Volkmann, Ukraine has gained significant experience in modern technologies, drones, and soldier training, making it an important partner for European armies.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
When he was head of the council of the Lahn-Dill district in the state of Hessen, he launched a municipal partnership with the Ukrainian city of Brovary near the capital Kyiv to deliver supplies to those in need.
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he → launch → need
As a member of the Bundestag's Committee on Foreign Affairs and the United4Ukraine group, an international network of lawmakers, he continues to advocate for Ukraine.
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he → continue → Ukraine
During his latest trip to the country, he spoke with DW about why he thinks aid to Ukraine is so important.
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aid → speak → Ukraine
What has changed since then?
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What → change → ?
The number of airstrikes — and thus the threat to the civilian population — has increased significantly again.
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number → increase → population
And at the same time, there is a sense that the Ukrainian people still want to stand their ground.
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people → be → ground
I have utmost respect for that.
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I → have → that
Ukraine is demonstrating that freedom and democracy can defend themselves and fight back.
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freedom → demonstrate → themselves
At the same time, political forces in Germany oppose this support.
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forces → oppose → support
The voters of these parties share this view and consider aid to Ukraine a waste of money.
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aid → share → money
What would you say to them?
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you → say → them
Everyone needs to understand that Ukraine today is not only defending itself, but also protecting Europe.
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Ukraine → need → Europe
That is why every euro we invest in Ukraine today is a good investment in our own security.
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we → invest → security
On top of that, Ukraine is able to help us more and more in Europe by sharing its experience on the battlefield with European armies — with regard to modern technologies, drones, the training of soldiers and modern tactics.
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Ukraine → help → soldiers
When it comes to experience, Ukraine has a tremendous lead in these areas.
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Ukraine → come → areas
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), which currently leads the polls, has called for an end to German support for Ukraine.
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which → lead → Ukraine
Many in Ukraine are wondering: What will happen if the AfD performs even better in the next German election and becomes part of the government?
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AfD → wonder → government
I can understand this fear.
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I → understand → fear
The Bundestag was elected to serve until 2029.
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Bundestag → elect → 2029
For me personally, as well as for my parliamentary group, the CDU/CSU, it is clear that Ukraine must be supported militarily because it is in our own interest in terms of security.
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it → support → security
For me, the AfD's position on Ukraine is an important reason why my party has ruled out any cooperation with them.
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party → rule → them
There is also a humanitarian responsibility: If millions of Ukrainians flee their homeland because Russia's war of aggression succeeds — and, of course, they won't want to live under Russian colonial rule — then that will destabilize our countries.
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that → be → countries
That would place a much greater financial burden on us than supporting Ukrainians today in their defense of their homeland.
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That → place → homeland
Do you view Russia as a military threat to Europe and Germany?
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you → view → Europe
Some are asking: If Russia has struggled so much in Ukraine militarily, what threat can it pose to NATO?
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it → ask → NATO
It is important to understand that Russia's hybrid attacks on Europe are not primarily aimed at military conquest but rather at achieving certain political objectives.
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attacks → understand → objectives
These include the destruction of EU and NATO cohesion.
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These → include → cohesion
So, it is entirely possible that Russia, perhaps with threats involving nuclear weapons, could attempt to occupy specific areas in the Baltic region to test the significance of NATO's Article 5 — the solidarity clause.
uncertain
Russia → involve → Article
This is why it is all the more important that we remain vigilant about this issue and develop the capacity to defend ourselves in order to deter Russia from any such aggression.
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we → remain → aggression
We can only protect peace through our own strength; weakness will be seen as an invitation to attack.
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weakness → protect → invitation
Germany was one of the countries particularly hesitant and cautious regarding Ukraine's possible accession to NATO.
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Germany → regard → NATO
At the 2008 NATO summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest, it was against granting Ukraine a Membership Action Plan (MAP).
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it → grant → Plan
Many in Ukraine believe that their country's rapid admission into NATO — or at least the granting of an MAP — could have prevented Russia's hybrid war in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022.
uncertain
admission → believe → 2022
It is clear that the hypothesis put forward by the German government at the time has turned out to have been wrong — the assumption that trade, for example in gas via the Nord Stream pipeline, would create mutual dependencies and thus prevent violence from occurring.
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trade → put → violence
The same applies to the assumption that neutrality would protect other countries.
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neutrality → apply → countries
It was a big mistake for Germany to not listen to the insights of our neighbors to the east, who, because of their own experiences with Moscow, historically have a much better understanding of what Russia actually wants.
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Russia → listen → what
Apart from accession to NATO, many Ukrainians view membership of the European Union as the best guarantee of security.
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Ukrainians → view → security
But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out Ukraine's accelerated admission to the bloc.
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Merz → rule → bloc
Could Germany be making the same mistake again?
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Germany → make → mistake
The EU is a very comprehensive community based on the rule of law.
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EU → base → law
…and 20 more, not listed.
