Thousands of people demonstrated this Saturday, February 24 in France to show their support for Ukraine, two years after the total invasion of the country by Moscow's troops, AFP journalists noted.
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In Paris, Lille, Rouen, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Strasbourg, Ukrainians and French people, often wrapped in the yellow and blue flag of Ukraine, gathered to express their solidarity but also their concern at the moment when the forces of Kiev, lacking weapons and ammunition, are in a very difficult position facing Russian troops.
Ukraine defends its sovereignty but also values, an ideal which are those of Europe.
Yes, Europe is at war.
Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, mayor (PS) of Rouen
In Paris, a few thousand people marched between the Places de la République and the Bastille, in an imposing calm, sometimes broken by
“Putin assassin!”
and
“Russia out of Ukraine!”
.
Among the demonstrators, some Russian opponents from the Russia Liberties association, and elected officials, such as the environmentalist senator Yannick Jadot.
“We cannot remain spectators of this fight”
In Rouen, around 500 people gathered in front of the town hall and a wreath was laid in honor of the Ukrainian dead.
“Ukraine defends its sovereignty but also values, an ideal which are those of Europe.
Yes, Europe is at war.
We cannot remain spectators of this fight
,” declared the socialist mayor of the city, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol.
“Putin will not win, Ukraine will win
,” said the mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, during a rally, before calling on France to
“strongly increase its aid to Ukraine
. ”
In Nice, five hundred people marched on the Promenade des Anglais, according to the Franco-Ukrainian Association of the Côte d'Azur (Afuca).
“It shouldn’t be said but we are exhausted.
Ukraine has been paying very, very dearly for two years.
We have proven ourselves, now Europe must open its eyes and understand that there is no point in seeking a compromise with Putin
,” Irina Bourdelles, president of Afuca, explained to AFP.
In Toulouse, around 200 people gathered in front of a statue of the famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
“That we all come together, in a sort of communion, that helps us
,” Savin Oleg, a 51-year-old Franco-Ukrainian who has lived in France for almost 30 years, told AFP.
“Putin terrorist!”
In Strasbourg, at least 300 people gathered in front of the Russian consulate, waving Ukrainian and European flags.
Around ten children went to leave red-stained stuffed animals in front of the consulate, while demonstrators chanted
“Putin terrorist!”
,
“Stop the war!”
or even
“Arm Ukraine!”
These toys are placed
"as a sign of protest"
against
"the executions of Ukrainian children, against (their) forced deportation (...) to Russia, against (their) illegal adoption"
, explained Olga Kostenko, of the association PromoUkraïna, at the origin of the demonstration.
And in Bordeaux, several hundred demonstrators marched under the slogans
“help Ukraine”
and
“arm Ukraine”
.