More than 10,000 people gathered in Paris on Sunday at République Square and marched to Bastille Square, where a rally took place to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Following a banner calling for unity to achieve Ukraine's victory, participants unfurled a 262-meter-long national flag, reports an Ukrinform correspondent.
"Solidarity with Ukraine!" chanted the demonstrators, including many French citizens, as well as representatives from the Georgian and Polish communities. Representatives from the Paris City Hall, senators, and deputies also joined the rally.
"We see unwavering solidarity from the French people with Ukraine today. We have felt it these three years and never tire of thanking France. There is much to be grateful for: political support and diplomatic leadership, help for our army, Caesar howitzers, Scalps, Mirage jets already in our skies protecting our cities, and everything France has provided to bring us closer to victory," emphasized Ukraine's Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko.
He noted that the two countries are working together to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.
"And I want to assure you, our French partners stand firm on this: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Europe without Europe," he added.
Notable slogans at the rally included "Trump, Putin, no negotiations without Ukraine," "Putin is slaughter and murder," and "Ukraine is not for sale."
"We traditionally called on France to deploy its military as peace guarantors in Ukraine. Also, we demand the immediate unfreezing of Russian assets to support Ukraine and a significant increase in military aid," said Volodymyr Kogutyak, vice president of the World Congress of Ukrainians and deputy head of the Union of Ukrainians in France.
At République Square, members of the Femen movement staged a protest with the slogan, "If Russia stops fighting, there will be no more war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Europe."
Later on Sunday, Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led a mass for the victims of the war and for peace in Ukraine at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.
A total of 52 Ukrainian rallies are planned across various regions of France to mark the third anniversary of the full-scale war.
