BRUSSELS (AFP) – Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday (March 7) took to the streets in cities throughout Europe for the second weekend operating to protest in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow’s assault on its pro-Western neighbour on Feb 24 has sparked international condemnation and an outpouring of solidarity with Kyiv because the West inflicts harsh sanctions, some directed in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.
Rallies have been once more organised throughout the continent following demonstrations on Saturday to denounce Russia’s actions and demand an finish to the battle.
In Brussels, police mentioned round 5,000 folks took half in a rally marked by a sea of Ukrainian flags and chants of “Russians, go home!”, “No to war” and “Europe, be brave, act now!”.
Protesters within the French metropolis of Toulouse – which is twinned with Ukraine’s capital Kyiv – assembled behind a big yellow and blue banner, holding portraits exhibiting a bloodstained Putin and labelling him an murderer.
Cries of “close the airspace” and “Let’s protect Ukraine’s sky” resounded via town, a reference to Kyiv’s demand that Nato set up a no-fly zone to stop Russian plane contributing to Moscow’s onslaught.
Around 5,000 folks additionally gathered within the northern metropolis of Caen by a memorial commemorating the 1944 D-Day landings, a key turning level within the battle in opposition to Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Ukrainian flag was hoisted and plenty of attendees sported the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag, an AFP correspondent noticed.
“People of Ukraine, we won’t desert you! Democracy, freedom, peace,” learn one placard.
‘Close the sky, not your eyes!’
In Spain, protests unfolded within the capital Madrid, Barcelona and different cities throughout the nation.
Authorities mentioned about 800 folks congregated in Barcelona’s central sq. with banners saying “Close the sky, not your eyes”, “Nato, protect Ukraine’s sky” and “Stop Putin, stop the war”.
“They are attacking, destroying and killing civilians for no reason,” Ukrainian Natalia Brodovska, who has lived in Spain for eight years, advised AFP.
“It’s horrible, we can’t sleep or eat. I think all Ukrainians feel that. But the situation of my people who are in Ukraine is a lot worse,” the 45-year-old lawyer mentioned.
In Serbia’s capital Belgrade – the place a pro-Putin protest in help of Russia’s invasion passed off two days earlier than – a whole bunch of demonstrators gathered to specific their solidarity with Ukraine.
“We want to save Belgrade’s face because what happened on Friday (the pro-Russian protest) is absolutely shameful,” Zdravko Jankovic, a 46-year-old mathematician, advised AFP.
Around 100 folks got here out in help of Ukraine in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
Gatherings have been additionally reported in Britain, Germany, Bulgaria and Montenegro on Sunday.
Thousands of protesters descended on the streets of cities internationally, together with in Paris, New York, Rome and Zurich, on Saturday to demand an finish to the battle.
Follow The Straits Times’ stay protection on the Ukraine disaster right here.
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