The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Deutsche Bundesbank lended their support to a concert promoting peace organised by the Berlin State Opera together with its orchestra and choir under the musical direction of Daniel Barenboim. The concert took place in Berlin on Sunday, 6 March 2022 and was livestreamed on rbbKultur.

“Showing our solidarity”

ECB President Christine Lagarde and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel attended the concert. The two have expressed their horror at Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “At this dark moment for Europe, the thoughts of the ECB’s Governing Council are with the people of Ukraine,” said Ms Lagarde, while Dr Nagel remarked that “Our thoughts are with all those enduring suffering under this shocking attack. It is important that we come together to show our solidarity.”

Donations account for the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

The ECB, the Bundesbank and other Eurosystem central banks are supporting the charity campaign with their own donations. All proceeds from the concert as well as any further donations will benefit the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) of the United Nations.

The UHF, established in February 2019, is a country-based pooled fund which collects donor contributions into a single fund. The collected funds are made directly available to partner organisations in situ so that they can rapidly provide coordinated and targeted aid where it is most urgently needed. The funds may be used for shelter, food, clean water or medication, for example. The partner organisations include national and international NGOs, UN agencies and Red Cross societies, amongst others.

The UHF receives operational support from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) at the country level.

The Bundesbank has set up an account for donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund:

Deutsche Bundesbank
IBAN: DE 50 5040 0000 0050 4050 40
BIC: MARKDEFFXXX
Purpose of donation: Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

The Bundesbank is not able to issue donation receipts.