Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier prepared the people in Germany for a difficult future as a result of the Ukraine war and invoked their spirit of resistance. "There are harder years, rough years ahead of us," he said in a keynote speech in Berlin on Friday. The period before February 24 was an "epoch with a tailwind" in which the Germans had benefited greatly from the peace dividend after the end of the bloc confrontation. "The peace dividend has been used up. An epoch against the wind is beginning for Germany."

During these years, Germany could build on the power and strength that it had developed in the past, Steinmeier said. The country is economically strong, has good research, strong companies, an efficient state and a large and strong center in its society.

Something must be added to these strengths, which have helped Germany so far. "We have to be able to deal with conflict, both internally and externally. We need the will to assert ourselves and also the strength to limit ourselves." No war mentality is necessary. "But we need resilience and resilience."

First and foremost, this includes a strong and well-equipped Bundeswehr, stressed the Federal President. Germany is the strong country in the heart of Europe and has a duty to make its contribution to the defense of the alliance. "I assure our partners: Germany accepts its responsibility, in NATO, in Europe."

But the ability to deal with conflict and resilience require even more. Criticism of the Federal Republic will increase to the extent that expectations of Germany increase. "We will have to get used to the fact that a country like ours is being criticized," said Steinmeier. "We have to deal with this in an adult manner and not immediately misuse any criticism from outside as ammunition in the domestic political debate."

Steinmeier addressed the citizens directly. The new era challenges each individual. "Perhaps you could still get through the times with a tailwind without doing a great deal yourself. Perhaps you could allow yourself to leave politics to others. That no longer applies today. Germany, our country, needs your will to change, needs yours Commitment to our community to get us where we want to be."

People would have to accept restrictions in the coming years. But: "Our state will not leave you alone during this time!" Wealthy and rich people now have to do their part to cover the immense costs of the relief. "Impressive relief packages are important - but no less important is justice in the distribution of the burden."

The world has been different since the epochal break. "And that means that we have to say goodbye to old thought patterns and hopes," said Steinmeier. This applies in particular to looking at Russia. The peaceful withdrawal of the Soviet troops after reunification raised a lot of hope for a peaceful future. "I had this hope too, and it was the driving force behind my work for many years". If you look at today's Russia, there is no place for old dreams. "Our countries are against each other today."

Steinmeier stressed that the Russian attack on Ukraine was an attack on the law, on the principles of non-violence and inviolable borders. "It's basically an attack on everything that we Germans stand for." So anyone who shrugs their shoulders and asks what this war has to do with us in Germany is speaking "irresponsibly, but above all oblivious to history," said the Federal President. "With this attitude, we as Germans cannot survive in Europe - this attitude is wrong!"

Many people asked him why Germany should bear the burden of a war in another country and whether the sanctions could not be abandoned. He does not want to dismiss these questions because the fears behind them are real. "We must answer these questions."

Steinmeier conceded that the sanctions would have costs, including for us. "But what would be the alternative? Watch this criminal attack without doing anything? Just carry on as if nothing had happened?" It is in Germany's interest to work with Russia's partners to counter the breach of the law. "It is in our interest that we free ourselves from dependencies on a regime that is rolling tanks against a neighboring country and using energy as a weapon. It is in our interest to protect ourselves and reduce our vulnerability."