American journalist and historian Anne Applebaum received the prestigious German Book Trade Peace Prize in Frankfurt and took the opportunity to make a public call for continued support for Ukraine. During her speech, Applebaum mentioned that pacifism in the face of aggression is not always the best response, warning about the dangers of appeasement.
The historian pointed out that German history does not teach that Germans should be pacifists, but that the demand for pacifism in the face of an aggressive dictatorship can lead to appeasement and acceptance of that dictatorship. In this sense, Applebaum defended the importance of not yielding to Russian aggression and advocated for active support for Ukraine in its defense against the invasion.
During the award ceremony, Applebaum was accompanied by her husband, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, who shared his position in favor of utilizing the international stage to back Ukraine in these critical moments. Both agreed that if a military defeat can help end the violence promoted by Russia, it should be considered a viable option, recalling how military defeat helped end violence in Germany in the past.
Applebaum's speech resonates in Germany, a country that has embraced a spirit of pacifism as a consequence of its past under Adolf Hitler's regime during World War II. The journalist emphasized the importance of learning from history to avoid repeating past mistakes and urged not to look away from current aggression.