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Let's take a look: "...Germany, along with the U.S., has been one of the biggest suppliers of weapons for Ukraine. According to Scholz on Thursday, German aid to Ukraine, for financial and humanitarian support as well as weapons, had totaled more than 14 billion euros ($14.83 billion) so far. And according to Statista, the U.S. had already provided $46.6 billion financial aid for military purposes to Ukraine as of January 15.
✓ The organizer initiated a petition two weeks ago, calling for negotiation and peace. It has gathered 607,000 signatures as of Thursday on the change.org website. Gunter Verheugen, the former vice president of the European Commission, and Erich Vad, a former brigadier general, were among the first signatories.
Thousands protest in Berlin over arming Ukraine against Russia
"Over 10,000 protesters in Germany called for an end to the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine on Saturday, and urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz to lead diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Organized by Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent left-wing German politician, the protest came a day after the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which drew promises of more weapons from Western allies, fresh sanctions against Russia and shows of support for Kyiv from across the globe.
A police spokesperson said 10,000 people gathered around Germany's symbolic Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, and 1,400 officials were mobilized to keep the peace and to enforce bans on military uniforms, Russian and Soviet flags, Russian military songs and right-wing symbols.
The police spokesperson said there was no sign of right-wing groups attending and that the protest was peaceful.
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"We call on the German chancellor to stop the escalation of arms deliveries. Now!...Because every day lost costs up to 1,000 more lives, and brings us closer to a 3rd World War," the protest's organizers said on their website. . .The petition said that Ukraine can win individual battles with support by the West, but it can't defeat the world's largest nuclear power, neither side can win militarily and the conflict can only end by negotiation, which doesn't mean "surrendering," but "making compromises on both sides with the aim of preventing hundreds of thousands more deaths and worse."
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"Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in London and Paris, as well as other major capitals across Europe, demanding an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine and urging the Western governments to stop supplying Kiev with weapons.
The demonstrations took place in the major European capitals on Saturday, a day after an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine entered its second year.
The Saturday rally in London was organized by Stop the War Coalition. It was held at Portland Place in the city's central area, from which the participants marched towards the Trafalgar Square.
The London rally was attended by Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour Party leader and a current member of the parliament.
Corbyn called on world leaders to unite their actions in order to bring peace to Ukraine. He added that hatred, poverty, terrorism and refugees are all fruits of war, warning that a new conflict will be just around the corner if the world leaders do nothing about the war in Ukraine.
The protesters in London also chanted anti-war slogans, while holding banners calling for an end to the West's incessant campaign of pumping weapons into Ukraine.
Kiev's Western allies have so far provided it with billions of dollars worth of heavy arms. Moscow has repeatedly warned that arming Ukraine will only prolong the war and add to suffering of its people.
"I don't agree with sending weapons [to Ukraine] because, it extends the war," said Dalia Sanchez, an anti-war activist, adding the Western military alliance of NATO and Russia should engage in talks to prevent more escalation and deaths.
John Clark, another anti-war demonstrator, said NATO's eastward expansion was not right, adding, "I am here today just because I think we need to stop warmongers and we need to reconsider what is happening."
A counterrally was also held in London, calling for increased military supply to Ukraine. Pro-Ukraine demonstrators held banners, calling for arming Ukraine to stop Russia.
In Paris, hundreds of people demonstrated against the war in Ukraine, while singing Ukraine's national anthem at Place de la Republique. According to the police, the rally attracted around 3,000 participants.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in London and Paris, as well as other major capitals across Europe, demanding an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine and urging the Western governments to stop supplying Kiev with weapons.
The demonstrations took place in the major European capitals on Saturday, a day after an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine entered its second year.
The Saturday rally in London was organized by Stop the War Coalition. It was held at Portland Place in the city's central area, from which the participants marched towards the Trafalgar Square.
The London rally was attended by Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour Party leader and a current member of the parliament.
Corbyn called on world leaders to unite their actions in order to bring peace to Ukraine. He added that hatred, poverty, terrorism and refugees are all fruits of war, warning that a new conflict will be just around the corner if the world leaders do nothing about the war in Ukraine.
The protesters in London also chanted anti-war slogans, while holding banners calling for an end to the West's incessant campaign of pumping weapons into Ukraine.
Kiev's Western allies have so far provided it with billions of dollars worth of heavy arms. Moscow has repeatedly warned that arming Ukraine will only prolong the war and add to suffering of its people.
"I don't agree with sending weapons [to Ukraine] because, it extends the war," said Dalia Sanchez, an anti-war activist, adding the Western military alliance of NATO and Russia should engage in talks to prevent more escalation and deaths.
John Clark, another anti-war demonstrator, said NATO's eastward expansion was not right, adding, "I am here today just because I think we need to stop warmongers and we need to reconsider what is happening."
A counterrally was also held in London, calling for increased military supply to Ukraine. Pro-Ukraine demonstrators held banners, calling for arming Ukraine to stop Russia.
In Paris, hundreds of people demonstrated against the war in Ukraine, while singing Ukraine's national anthem at Place de la Republique. According to the police, the rally attracted around 3,000 participants.
Other demonstrations simultaneously took place in other French cities such as Bordeaux, Rennes or Montpellier, as well as in other European capitals such as Berlin and Brussels.
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In Berlin some 10,000 people gathered in the central part of the city, calling for negotiations with Russia rather than escalation of the war through supplying Kiev with more weapons.
"We call on the German chancellor to stop the escalation of arms deliveries. Now!...Because every day lost costs up to 1,000 more lives - and brings us closer to a third world war," the protest's organizers said on their website.
"Negotiate, not escalate," said one sign held by a demonstrator, while a banner in the crowd read, "Not our war.”
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Thousands rally in Berlin, Paris to call for peace in Ukraine
People in Berlin take part in a protest against the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
Protesters in Paris and Berlin capitals have rallied to demand peace in Ukraine, a day after the anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Thousands of people protested in the Germany capital on Saturday to condemn the government’s supply of arms to Ukraine and call for peace talks to end the war.
The organisers were criticised before the protest for downplaying Ukraine’s right to defend its territory from Russian aggression and failing to distance themselves from the far right and far left, where pro-Russia views are common.
One of the organisers, opposition lawmaker Sahra Wagenknecht of the ex-communist Left party, said that there was no place for neo-Nazis at the rally, but that anyone who wanted peace “with an honest heart” was welcome.
While most placards at the protest reflected traditional left-wing positions, some participants bore banners with the slogan “Americans go home” and the logo of a far-right magazine. Some waved Russian flags.
Wagenknecht accused the German government of seeking to “ruin Russia,” and said that Moscow should be made an “offer” in order to resume peace talks.
Another of the organisers, prominent feminist author Alice Schwarzer, said it was time to look beyond left and right.
The two women have also launched a petition which claims to have gathered more than 645,000 signatures.
Protesters jeered whenever she and Wagenknecht mentioned the name of German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, who has strongly backed the delivery of arms to Ukraine.
Police said that about 13,000 people took part in the rally at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, while organisers claimed that 50,000 people participated.
One attendee was Konstantin Schneider, an academic from Berlin, who said he understood that countries in Eastern Europe were afraid of Russia.
“Of course [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is an idiot to attack Ukraine,” he said. “But we still need to find new solutions [to the war] instead of sweepingly saying there’s nothing to negotiate.”
There were several small counter-demonstrations. On Friday, thousands of protesters across Europe marched against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
✓ In Paris, several hundred people sang on Saturday Ukraine’s national anthem at Place de la Republique before Ukrainian children dressed in traditional costume led a procession.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a recent television interview that he does not see a prospect for peace talks at present.
“We need to understand that the Russian president currently accepts only one form of negotiations, which is that [Ukraine] capitulates unconditionally and he achieves all of his aims,” Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF.
Protest in Berlin over arming Ukraine against Russia draws thousands
BERLIN (Reuters) - A demonstration against supplying Ukraine with weapons for war with Russia attracted 10,000 people on Saturday, drawing criticism from top German government officials and a large police presence to maintain order.
Organised by a prominent left-wing German politician, the protest comes a day after the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which drew promises of more weapons from western allies, fresh sanctions against Russia and shows of support for Kyiv across the globe.
"We call on the German chancellor to stop the escalation of arms deliveries. Now!...Because every day lost costs up to 1,000 more lives - and brings us closer to a 3rd world war," the protest's organizers said on their website.
The "Uprising for Peace" was organised in part by Sahra Wagenknecht, a member of Germany's left-wing Die Linke party.
Germany, along with the United States, has been one of the biggest suppliers of weapons for Ukraine.
"Negotiate, not escalate" one sign held by a demonstrator said, while a banner in the crowd read "Not our war".
A police spokesperson said 10,000 people gathered around Germany's symbolic Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin.
Police mobilised 1,400 officials to keep the peace and to enforce bans on military uniforms, Russian and Soviet flags, Russian military songs and right-wing symbols.
The police spokesperson said there was no sign of right-wing groups attending and that the protest, which German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said must be "clearly opposed", was peaceful.
"Whoever does not stand by Ukraine is on the wrong side of history," Lindner said on Twitter."
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