Ukraine’s allies show unity on anniversary of Russian invasion

Ukraine’s allies around the world rallied on Friday and announced new sanctions against Russia, showing collective support for Kiev on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was an attack on the lessons humanity learned from the two world wars.
“This is an attack on everything we support,” he said at the event, calling Russian aggression a “crime of the times” and expressing confidence that Germany would remain Ukraine’s biggest military support on the European continent.
In Poland, demonstrators marched towards a rally holding banners reading “Russia is a terrorist state” and turning on sirens outside a residential building for employees of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited Kiev and together with Ukrainian Prime Minister laid flowers at the wall of remembrance of those who died for Ukraine.
The United States marked the anniversary by announcing new sanctions against Russia and its allies, new export controls and tariffs aimed at undermining Moscow’s ability to wage war. The UK has also imposed new sanctions.
Steinmeier, the former German foreign minister, said any constructive proposal that brings peace closer would be welcome.
“Whether China, a world power, wants to play such a constructive role remains unclear. If so, then China should definitely talk not only with Moscow, but also with Kiev,” he said, calling for a unified peace effort under the auspices of the United Nations.
China said on Friday that dialogue and negotiations were the only viable means to resolve the crisis. China’s Foreign Ministry has released a 12-point plan for a comprehensive ceasefire and gradual de-escalation of the conflict.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag on Thursday evening, and Londoners gathered to picket with Ukrainian flags and banners reading “If you support freedom, support freedom”. Ukraine”.
“There will be life after this war, because Ukraine will win,” said Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, in her speech.
The buildings of the main EU institutions also lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, as did the Sydney Opera House.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a video message that Ukraine “defends the values ​​of freedom and democracy on which the European identity is based”.
“Ukraine is not alone and will not be alone,” she said. “The free world owes a debt to Ukrainian women and men.”
On Friday in Russia there were no major mass events dedicated to the anniversary of the start of the war. On Thursday, fireworks were launched in Moscow in honor of Defenders of the Fatherland Day, and on Wednesday a variety concert was held, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin says Moscow is fighting the combined power of the West in a “struggle for Russia’s survival”. In Kiev, it is said that there can be no peace until Russian forces leave Ukrainian territory.