Thousands of people demonstrated across Europe last Saturday in support of Ukraine, chanting “Russia out of Ukraine” on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country. Despite these shows of solidarity, public opinion seems skeptical about Kyiv’s chances of victory.
In Germany, approximately 5,000 people gathered in Berlin, according to police reports, carrying Ukrainian flags and signs reading “Defend Ukraine” and “Arm Ukraine Now”. Similar demonstrations occurred in Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart. Berlin’s Mayor, Kai Wegner, expressed at the capital’s march, “Our place in this battle for freedom is beside our Ukrainian friends.” In Frankfurt, 58-year-old engineer Akim Lobrower emphasized the need for the West to do more to support Ukraine. Ukrainian Maxim Godovnikov, 38, called for more arms to be supplied to her country, stating, “If we had more weapons, we could protect ourselves and reclaim the territories occupied by Russia in Eastern Ukraine.”
In France, thousands also rallied in support of Ukraine, shouting slogans against Putin and Russia’s presence in Ukraine. Demonstrations took place in Paris, Lille, Rouen, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg, where Ukrainians and French expressed their solidarity and concerns as Kyiv’s forces, lacking weapons and ammunition, face a challenging situation against Russian troops.
In the UK, thousands marched from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square in London, waving Ukrainian flags. Sixteen-year-old Ukrainian Anna Gieiev, who joined the demonstration with her mother, expressed her desire to show the world that “the war has not ended… People are still dying, children are still dying because of Russia’s terrorism.”
Dublin, the capital of Ireland, saw thousands marching in a rally organized by the Ukrainian community, which has welcomed 100,000 refugees since the war began. In Bern, Switzerland, thousands gathered, with political leaders urging the neutral state, which refuses to export its weapons to Ukraine, to commit to providing more aid to Kyiv amidst the war.
In Serbia’s Belgrade, hundreds of Serbs and Russian expatriates joined a march led by the Ukrainian ambassador. In Italy, hundreds participated in a rally in Milan titled “Victory for Peace,” initiated by pro-Ukraine associations. About 400 people gathered in central Athens, Greece, and in Madrid, a rally of around 1,500 people, including many Ukrainians, took place, with Spain having welcomed 83,000 Ukrainians in 2022. Demonstrators carried signs affirming “Donbas is Ukraine” and denouncing Putin as a “killer.” Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles in Toledo stated, “Their death is our death, and we will continue to help Ukraine in defense of peace, freedom, and security principles.”
Despite these demonstrations, a survey across 12 EU countries reveals a pessimistic view among European citizens regarding Ukraine’s prospects of winning the war against Russia. The survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) found that only 10% of respondents expect a Ukrainian military victory. About 20% anticipate a Russian win, while 37% foresee the war ending in some form of “settlement.” However, 41% of participants believe the EU should “increase” or “maintain” its support levels for Ukraine, especially if Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election and American support for Ukraine ceases. In Germany, after two years of war, only 25% of Germans believe Kyiv will prevail over Moscow, while 40% think otherwise, according to an Ipsos poll of 2,000 people.
