Over 10,000 people gathered in Paris on February 23 at the Place de la République and marched to the Bastille Square, where a rally was held to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Following a banner calling for unity for Ukraine’s victory, the participants unfurled a 262-meter-long national flag of Ukraine.
“Solidarity with Ukraine!” chanted the demonstrators, including many French, as well as representatives of the Georgian and Polish communities. Representatives of the Paris City Hall, senators, and MPs came to support the Ukrainians.
The event was attended by Ambassador of Ukraine to France Vadym Omelchenko. He emphasized that France stands by the position of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Europe without Europe.”
Among the slogans at the rally were “Trump, Putin, no negotiations without Ukraine!”, “Putin is a massacre and murder,” and “Ukraine is not for sale.”.
“Today, we traditionally called on France to engage its troops as guarantors of peace in Ukraine. We also call for the immediate use of Russian assets in support of Ukraine and a significant increase in military aid,” said Volodymyr Kogutiak, Vice President of the World Congress of Ukrainians and Deputy Chairman of the Union of Ukrainians in France.
Femen activists held a rally on the Republic Square under the title “If Russia stops fighting, there will be no more war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Europe.”
Later on Sunday, Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led a mass for the victims of war and for peace in Ukraine at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
On February 23, rallies in support of Ukraine began worldwide, with not only Ukrainians but also nationals of many countries coming out to support Kyiv and protest against Russia’s war and invasion.
It was the first day of the #StandWithUkraine campaign announced by the Ukrainian World Congress. More than 1,020 events are scheduled to take place abroad to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 662 cities in 78 countries, according to the organizers.
The posters carried by the demonstrators included not only images of Kremlin ruler Putin but also of U.S. President Donald Trump. The manifestations took place in other French cities. People came out in support of Ukraine in Strasbourg, Lyon, Avignon, Nice, and Caen.
In total, 52 rallies in support of Ukraine are scheduled to be held in different regions of France to mark the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the start of Russia’s all-out war, the biggest war in Europe since World War II.
