THOUSANDS have turned out in support for Ukraine, as a sea of blue and yellow marches through London, demanding an end to Putin’s war.
The protesters, who gathered for the three-year anniversary of the invasion, arrived at the Russian embassy this afternoon – chanting “stop Russia, stop the war”.
AlamyProtesters gathered in central London[/caption]
PASome draped Ukrainian flags round themselves[/caption]
ReutersThe crowd marched towards the Russian Embassy[/caption]
Others shouted “occupation is no peace”, and “Russia is a terrorist state”.
As well as calling on Russia itself for an immediate withdrawal of troops, protesters also urged the international community against abandoning the war-torn country.
One sign read: “Occupation is not peace! Do not betray Ukraine!”
And others directed their anger at America, with one placard reading: “Trump, Musk and Putin are in denial of the truth.”
The crowd began at the St Volodymyr statue, a national saint of Ukraine – led by Ukrainian singers from the Hromada choir.
A banner at the front of the crowd read, “Russian Troops Out! Solidarity with Ukraine” – as protesters chanted, “Trump you’re no friend, you’re a traitor to Ukraine” and “Putin you can’t hide, we accuse you of genocide”.
They then marched from the statue, erected in 1988 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the Christianisation of Ukraine, to the Russian embassy at Kensington Palace Gardens.
Many waved Ukrainian flags, while British and Polish flags were also spotted in the crowds.
A coalition of Ukrainian community and UK-based labour organisations attended – with various speakers addressing the rally at the start of the day.
The march comes amid fears Ukraine is being frozen out of peace talks between Moscow and US President Donald Trump.
AlamySome protesters handed out balloons which read ‘Stop Russia’[/caption]
AlamyA speaker addressed the crowd at the St Volodymyr statue[/caption]
AlamyOne sign read ‘we will rave on Putin’s game’[/caption]
In a joint statement, the organisers of today’s march said Ukraine has been made vulnerable by not being provided with enough aid to defeat Russia and is being “expected to consign its own citizens to occupation under a deal imposed by Trump”.
They added that they were calling for “renewed solidarity, that peace must come with the full withdrawal of Russian forces”, as well as for a “surge in military aid to strengthen Ukraine in any negotiations and be able to finally end the occupation if no just agreement is secured”.
Olena Ivashchenko, director of Campaign for Ukraine, said Kyiv‘s future was “being decided by politicians behind closed doors” and that “true and sustainable peace cannot be achieved without justice”.
She said: “We call for Russia to withdraw its troops from all of Ukraine, for Trump to end his backroom power games and for the UK to strengthen its leadership in safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and Europe‘s security.”
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) supported the demonstration alongside national unions including GMB, Unison and the NUM.
Barbara Plant, president of GMB, said the union “remains firmly in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom from Russian military aggression”.
She added: “Only the ability for the Ukrainian people to truly determine their own future free from Putin’s occupation will bring about a just or lasting peace, and certainly not an alliance of oligarchs.”
The event was organised by the Ukrainian Solidarity Campaign, alongside other Ukrainian community groups and civil society organisations.
Mariia Pastukh, of Vsesvit Ukraine solidarity collective, said the location of the rally near the Russian embassy was to draw attention to “Russia’s imperialist ambitions, which fuelled its brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine”.
She said: “We demand that Russia’s crimes in Ukraine not be forgotten.
“Legitimising this aggression by accepting the occupation would embolden dictators around the world.”
Christopher Ford, secretary of the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, said: “The millions who have stood by Ukraine are appalled at the conduct of Trump and threat of betrayal, promises made to do whatever it takes to help Ukraine win have collapsed without any explanation.
“We must show that this is not inevitable and raise our voices that a partition and occupation is not a sustainable peace, the UK and Europe must not repeat the errors of 1930s appeasement.”
AlamyThe rally was led by Ukrainian singers from the Hromada choir[/caption]
PACrowds stood with balloons on their way to the embassy[/caption]
AlamyAnother sign read ‘Russia tortures prisoners’[/caption]
AFPProtesters gathered in their thousands[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
