PARIS — Approximately two thousand demonstrators converged in the French capital on Saturday to express solidarity with Ukraine, just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The Paris march featured participants chanting slogans including “We support Ukraine against Putin, who is killing it” and demands that “Frozen Russian assets must be confiscated, they belong to Ukraine.”
European Parliament member Raphael Glucksmann, speaking to AFP, highlighted the contrasting attitudes toward the conflict: “In public opinion, there is massive support for Ukraine that has not wavered since the first day of the full-scale invasion. On the other hand, in the French political class, sounds of giving up are starting to emerge. On both the far left and the far right, voices of capitulation are getting louder and louder.”
Among those participating was Irina Kryvosheia, a Ukrainian resident in France, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to supporters for reminding everyone “that what has been happening for four years is not normal, it is not right.” She maintains daily contact with her parents in Kyiv, who recently endured several days without heating, electricity, or running water following intense Russian bombardments.
Humanitarian efforts continue amid the crisis, with Francois Grunewald, head of “Comite d’Aide Medicale Ukraine,” recently returning from a one-month mission where his organization has delivered approximately 40 generators since January to address critical infrastructure damage.
The conflict, described as Europe’s bloodiest and most destructive since World War II, has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of military losses on both sides. The war has displaced millions of refugees and left vast areas devastated, with Russia currently occupying nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Sustained attacks on energy infrastructure have precipitated a major energy crisis throughout the country.