Pro-Ukraine protests in Europe after two years of war

"Russia out of Ukraine!": thousands of people demonstratedé Saturday in Europe their support à Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, even if a very small proportion of the public believes in Ukraine. a victory for kyiv.

In Germany, some 5,000 people, according to police, gathered in Berlin carrying Ukrainian flags or banners reading “Defend Ukraine” or “Arm Ukraine, now”.

The demonstrators were as many in Cologne. Several thousand others have been recorded in Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart in particular.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in Madrid © AFP – JAVIER SORIANO

“Our place in this fight for freedom is alongside our Ukrainian friends,” the city's mayor, Kai Wegner, said at the Berlin rally.

The Brandenburg Gate, which during the Cold War ran alongside the wall that split the metropolis in two, must be illuminated in the evening in the yellow and blue colors of Ukraine.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in Warsaw © AFP – Wojtek Radwanski

“The West must do more to support Ukraine,” Achem Lobreuer, a 58-year-old engineer who came to demonstrate in Frankfurt, told AFP.

“If we have more weapons, we will be able to protect ourselves and also recover the territories conquered” by Russia in eastern Ukraine, adds Maksym Godovnikov , a 38-year-old Ukrainian.

– “Putin assassin!” –

In France, thousands of people also marched to show their support for kyiv, sometimes shouting “Putin assassin!” or “Russia out of Ukraine!”.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in London © AFP – Ben Stansall

In Paris, Lille (north), Rouen (west), Nice or Toulouse (south), Ukrainians and French people, often wrapped in the yellow and blue flag of Ukraine, gathered to express their solidarity but also their concern at a time when Kiev's forces, lacking weapons and ammunition, are in a very difficult position facing Russian troops.

In Great Britain also, several thousand people rushed from Hyde Park to demonstrate to Trafalgar Square in a sea of ​​Ukrainian flags.

Wreath of flowers on the head, Anna Gyev, a 16-year-old Ukrainian, who came with her mother, wants to “show people that the war is not over (…) people are still dying, children are still dying, because of terrorism” from Russia.

Tania Zubashenko, a 54-year-old Ukrainian, 25 of whom in the United Kingdom, recalls that “people die every day” and complains that “the West unfortunately does not provide enough weapons”.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in Bordeaux © AFP – Thibaud MORITZ

In Sweden, several thousand people also gathered in Stockholm under the slogan “Russia out of Ukraine”. “It is important that we show our support for Ukraine and their difficult fight,” Anders Engström, 61, told AFP.

Rallies also took place place in Belgrade, where several hundred Serbs and Russian citizens, having chosen exile after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, joined a rally led by the Ukrainian ambassador.

In Italy, a few hundred people took part in Milan (north) in a demonstration called “Victory for Peace” at the initiative of pro-Ukrainian associations. In Greece, four hundred people gathered in the center of Athens.

– Pessimism –

Despite this mobilization, European citizens are pessimistic about Ukraine's chances of winning the war against Russia, according to a poll in twelve EU countries, published this week.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in Berlin © AFP – Odd ANDERSEN

According to this survey for the think tank European Council on International Relations (ECFR), only 10% of respondents predict a victory for Ukraine on the ground.

Some 20% anticipate that of Russia, while 37% believe that the war will end in some form of “compromise”.

However, 41% of respondents believe that the EU should either “increase” or “maintain” its support for Ukraine at current levels in the event of an end to US support under a possible Trump presidency.

Rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2024 in London © AFP – Ben Stansall

In Germany itself, a country at the forefront of aid to Ukraine, after two years of war only 25% of the population believes in a victory for Kiev, while 40% think the opposite.

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