Berlin: Over 30,000 men, women, and children have joined an anti-war protest in central Berlin on Sunday, with many waving Ukrainian flags on holding banners with slogans opposing the Russian invasion.
Gathering near the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of a divided Germany during the Cold War, protesters- including people in which wheelchairs and toddlers in pushchairs, walked via the streets of Berlin, at times chanting and singing.
Meanwhile, the slogans on posters and banners included “Stop Putin”, “Stop War”, “Russian soldiers go home”, and “Solidarity with Ukraine!”
One of the protesters, Helene Krass, said, “Above all, it’s extremely important for Ukrainians to see that we will not forget them, not in two weeks and not after that.”
She added, “If we take to the streets every other Sunday for a year, that’s okay too.”
Some protesters even backed deliveries of weapons to Ukraine. The Russian invasion has encouraged Germany to break a post-World War Two taboo of not supplying arms to conflict zones and is now sending Ukraine anti-tank weapons and Stinger surface-to-air missiles from its military stocks.
One of the protesters said, “Sanctions can be introduced which hit the economy, and that’s important, but we should also consider what’s of help to the Ukrainian army in times of war and sadly, it’s weapons.”
Police have claimed that around 20,000 and 30,000 people joined the protests, less than half the 100,000 who took to the streets two weeks ago, as per the police.
It follows a demonstration in the Tuscan city of Florence on Saturday, where thousands have gathered to show their support for Ukraine.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not planned to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbour’s military capabilities and “de-Nazify” the country.
