On Saturday, hundreds gathered in London to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine, just two days shy of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The march comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Kyiv, intensifying the urgency of the cause.
Starting at the statue of St. Volodymyr, a revered national saint of Ukraine located in west London, protesters made their way to the Russian embassy, brandishing Ukrainian flags and messages of solidarity. The war, ignited by Russia on February 24, 2022, has drawn significant backing from Britain, which has imposed sanctions on Moscow, provided military and financial aid to Kyiv, and welcomed over 250,000 Ukrainian refugees.
At the rally, poignant signs captured the gravity of the situation: one proclaimed, “Ukraine defends peace for all of Europe,” while another warned, “If Ukraine falls, war will come to your house.”
“I’m not Ukrainian, but I recognize the great danger they are in,” said 68-year-old Briton Martin Vincent. “We cannot abandon them; it’s a duty for the UK to stand with Ukraine.”
Among the demonstrators was Nataliya, a university student who preferred not to reveal her last name for security reasons. “I feel so homesick and vulnerable right now. I don’t know if I’ll be able to return to my country,” she expressed, adorned in a floral crown reflecting the colors of the Ukrainian flag. “What’s next? Uncertainty and more uncertainty.”
Stella Robinson, 27, echoed her concerns, fearing the implications of the ongoing conflict. “This is not only Ukraine; this is Europe,” she asserted. Robinson criticized recent diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Russia that seem to sideline Kyiv and its European allies. “We can’t turn a blind eye to the war just because Trump wants peace. But what kind of peace? Frankly, it’s terrifying.”
Public sentiment in Britain remains staunchly supportive of Ukraine. A recent YouGov poll revealed that 67 percent of Brits want Ukraine to win the war and care deeply about its outcome. Furthermore, eight in ten respondents deemed it “unacceptable” for Ukraine to be excluded from negotiations regarding the conflict.
As the anniversary of the invasion approaches, the toll of the war on Ukrainian civilians continues to mount, with thousands reported killed, though the exact figures remain uncertain. The rally serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and the importance of international solidarity in the face of aggression.
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