Europeans rally in support of Ukraine on invasion anniversary

Thousands of Europeans protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, voicing support for Kyiv amid growing concerns over Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia’s assertive actions

With worries about Ukraine’s ability to withstand a more aggressive Russia, thousands of people flocked to the streets throughout Europe on Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of that country and to show solidarity for Kyiv.

The blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag were waved by demonstrators as they demanded an end to the fight that Russian President Vladimir Putin had started in major cities including Berlin, London, Paris, and other places.

For the first time in many years, conflict was brought back to European territory with the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, which caused a significant geopolitical upheaval with effects across the whole world. Protesters, particularly in Berlin, pushed for accelerated arms transfers to Ukraine on concerns of declining support from the country’s friends in the face of Russian aggression.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, spoke to a crowd at the Brandenburg Gate, condemning Putin’s “brutal war of aggression” and endorsing Ukraine’s demand for cutting-edge weapons, such as long-range Taurus missiles, which the German government has rejected because of fears of possible strikes somewhere in Russia.

Not only was there a need for military assistance, but Valeria Zhylenko, a Ukrainian participant in Berlin, emphasized that international help was still necessary in the face of global issues and that Ukraine’s battle was still continuing.

Demonstrators in London shared the message, highlighting the urgent need for more significant military support from the West and bemoaning the discrepancy between declarations made and acts carried out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond these cities, hundreds of people participated in rallies in Paris, voicing their outspoken opposition to Putin and support for Ukraine. In Rouen, the mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol shared the notion of Ukraine protecting European values and sovereignty, seeing the war as part of a larger European battle.

Near the Russian embassy in Warsaw, more than a thousand people came together in a moving rally, many of them carrying Ukrainian flags, highlighting the strong links and support from Poland, Ukraine’s neighbor and vital partner.

Participants in the protests expressed hopes for a Ukrainian triumph and a return to normality; in the Stockholm event, Maryana Kostiv, a young Ukrainian from Lviv, spearheaded this optimism. The demonstrations also took place in Dublin, Athens, Stockholm, Milan, and beyond.

Source: Newsroom