On the eve of the first anniversary of the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, different institutions from around the world have illuminated the best-known buildings in their towns with the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Thursday night.
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower has changed its night lighting. The lighting of the new lights, which will continue until February 26, has been preceded by an act by the mayoress of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. The emblematic monument has adopted the color blue for the spire and yellow for the base, in an act of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
The headquarters of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Brussels have also been illuminated this Thursday with the colors of the Ukrainian flag to honor their “courage” on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of the country, said the presidents of those institutions, Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola, respectively.
Von der Leyen stated that this is how they honor “the courage of the Ukrainian people” and “the memory of the fallen”, as well as “the strength of an entire country in resistance”.
In the same Belgian city, the NGO Avaaz has organized an event in the Robert Schuman square, in Brussels, where stuffed animals and toys representing children kidnapped after the war have been deposited. The square has been filled with candles, stuffed animals and flowers under a banner of support for Ukrainian citizens.
In England, the popular Trafalgar Square has witnessed a rally in repudiation of the war. The square has been filled with people with the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of support.
In the German capital, the United States embassy has also illuminated its building with the colors blue and yellow. For its part, at the Brandenburg Gate there has been a rally to support the Ukrainian people and the symbol of peace has been drawn with candles.
On the other side of the Atlantic, New York City has witnessed a demonstration in front of the United Nations headquarters.
Its Secretary General, António Guterres, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the General Assembly on Wednesday. “That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience,” Guterres said, calling the anniversary “a grim milestone for the people of Ukraine and for the international community.”