A significant meeting took place in Germany between Pavel Vugelman, the Deputy Mayor of Odessa, and Roman Schwartzman, the head of the regional association of Jewish former ghetto prisoners, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

This meeting was part of an official visit by the Odessa delegation commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Today, very few witnesses of those dreadful events remain.

Roman Markovich Schwartzman, a resident of Odessa who survived the ghetto, shared his survival story during World War II and spoke about the Soviet authorities' treatment of Jews and life in modern Ukraine.

“I thank you and the Bundestag for the opportunity to share my story and honor the memory of those we lost. Your support for Ukraine and Odessa is very important to me,” said Roman Schwartzman.

During the discussions, the parties addressed the current situation in Odessa, the importance of preserving memory, and Ukraine's needs, particularly for protecting civilians and infrastructure, as well as the liberation of its territories.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured support for Ukraine from Germany in this horrific war, emphasizing that democracy needs protection today.