This Saturday, February 25, the associations “For Ukraine, for their freedom and ours! “, the “French Network of Solidarity with Ukraine” and the “Union of Ukrainians in France” marched from Place de la République to Place de la Bastille.
Several hundred people gathered on Saturday in Paris as well as in several major cities, the day after demonstrations in France and in Europe to mark the first anniversary of the invasion of the country by Russia.
On the Place de la République in Paris, hundreds of participants sang the Ukrainian anthem in the early afternoon. At the head of the procession, Ukrainian children, dressed in traditional dress.
In Bordeaux and Rennes too, rallies were organized on Saturday.
In Montpellier, a hundred people responded to the call of the SOS Montpellier Ukraine association, while the Hérault welcomed some 2,000 Ukrainians who had fled their country. « The Russians of Montpellier with Ukraine », « Ukraine chooses freedom », « Stop War », could be read on the signs.
Berlin calls for ‘diplomacy rather than arms delivery’
10,000 people, according to German police, gathered in central Berlin on Saturday to call for negotiations with Moscow rather than delivering arms to Ukraine.
With the slogan « rise up for peace », this rally was initiated by far-left political figure Sahra Wagenknecht and feminist Alice Schwarzer, with far-right figures as participants who joined the march .
Why Russian Nuclear Escapes Sanctions
After intense discussions, the 27 member states of the European Union have adopted a tenth package of sanctions against Russia. Gas is still excluded, as well as nuclear.
The European Union announced on Saturday new sanctions against the Russian group Wagner for its “violations of human rights” in the Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali. Eleven people and seven entities linked to the paramilitary group have been added to the bloc’s list of asset freezes and a travel ban.
The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Evguéni Prigojine, claimed responsibility on Saturday for the capture by his men of the village of Yaguidné, located on the northern outskirts of Bakhmout. The capture of this locality contains more of the Russian vice around Bakhmout, the village being located less than two kilometers from the center of this fortress city.
« At 7 p.m. on February 25, Wagner’s assault units took full control of the village of Yagidné, north of Bakhmout, » said Evguéni Prigojine quoted by his press service on Telegram. A photograph accompanying the statement shows armed and masked men with a Wagner flag in front of the entrance sign to the village of Yaguidné.
G20 Finance Summit fails to agree statement on Ukraine
G20 finance ministers and central bankers ended their meetings in India on Saturday without reaching a joint statement, due to differences with China over the war in Ukraine.
India, which holds the presidency of the G20, published Saturday at the end of the meetings a « summary » of the discussions, but no joint press release.
“Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine” with “different assessments of the situation and sanctions,” the document said. An annotation specifies that within the G20, only China and Russia did not approve two paragraphs about Ukraine.
Russia accused the West of having « destabilized » the summit. « We regret that the activities of the G20 continue to be destabilized by the collective West and used in an anti-Russian and purely confrontational manner, » the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi, thanks to the Danish people
Thank you, Danish people, for your actions! For weapons that help our defense. For policies that help isolate the aggressor. For the willingness to join our reconstruction after the hostilities. And of course, for the belief that the project of a united and free Europe cannot be completed without the full integration of Ukraine, said Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
I know that there were many Ukrainian flags on the streets of many Danish cities during this year of our indomitable. I am grateful to you for each of these flags of Ukraine in your cities, in your squares.
The blue-yellow colors of Ukraine always indicate the love of freedom. They always bear witness to the presence of freedom. And so, they testify to the presence of courage.
Your courage, Danish people, is already a fact. Your courage, Madam Prime Minister, is already a fact. Your courage, dear members of Folketing Denmark, is also a fact. In fact, our Ukrainian courage. And therefore, our will with you will never cease to be a real fact of our life with you, said Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
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