Anti-NATO protests hit Belgium, France urging end of support to Kiev
Demonstrators in Brussels demand negotiations to reach a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
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Demonstrators calling for a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 26 (Social media)
Thousands of demonstrators in Brussels on Sunday called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and for a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
The demonstrators demanded negotiations to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis, as the head of the General Labour Confederation of Belgium, Thierry Bodson, told Xinhua that "this is the only way forward."
"Let's stop the fire ... Let the politicians settle the diplomatic affairs, the people want peace, bread," demonstrator Yvyes Eckman said.
"Everywhere in the world when you take sanctions it is always the people who pay," considered another demonstrator, Isabelle Minnon.
Many of us against the NATO war. Stop weapons to Ukraine! Peace talks now! #Bruxelles #EuropeForPeace pic.twitter.com/g4bzqVizi2
— Emanuele Dolce 🔴⚫️ (@EmanueleDolce) February 26, 2023
Anti-NATO protests in France for second week
The French capital Paris and other locations across the country saw multiple mass protests against France’s NATO membership and its continued support of Kiev on Sunday.
For the second consecutive weekend, people took to the streets in protests organized by the right-wing Les Patriotes party, led by Florian Philippot, who personally attended the rally in Paris.
On the streets of Paris, France today: Another huge anti-NATO protest that Western corporate media are trying very hard to ignore. pic.twitter.com/gqJB7pLUx4
— sarah (@sahouraxo) February 26, 2023
Philippot said Sunday's event, dubbed "National March for Peace", saw more people participating compared to last week when some 10,000 showed up for a rally in Paris. According to the French politician, smaller-scale anti-NATO protests were held at some 30 other locations across France as well.
Protesters marched through the streets of Paris, carrying a large banner reading “For Peace". The marchers called for the withdrawal of France from both the US-led NATO and from the EU and urged a halt to supplying Ukraine with weaponry. The protesters also took a swing at the incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron, chanting “Macron get out!”
Westerners are tired of sending weapons to Ukraine.
— 5star (@Ak_bh2047) February 27, 2023
Massive Anti War protests in London.
Anti-Ukraine and Anti-Nato protests in Germany and France.
Looks like USA controlling the narrative of this war has failed among common citizens#Ukraine #London #Russia #Germany #France pic.twitter.com/qferao35Qh
The marchers called for the withdrawal of #France from both the US-led #NATO and from the EU, and urged a halt to supplying #Ukraine with weaponry. The protesters also took jabs at the incumbent French President Emmanuel #Macron, chanting "Macron get out!" https://t.co/Tdjcq3JAZP
— Tess D’Urberton (@MimsInNE) February 27, 2023
Following the march, the protesters held a rally led by Philippot, who was filmed defacing NATO and EU flags alongside his supporters.
Read next: NATO aid to Ukraine will lead to World War III: France's The Patriots
A couple of days ago, German officials and protesters accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of drowning the nation deeper into the Ukrainian-Russia conflict during a "Peace Rally" attended by thousands of Germans in Berlin and called for by the left-wing Die Linke party.
Protesters urged the German government to play a constructive role in ending the war in Ukraine rather than fueling it with the continued weapons supply to Kiev.
Berlin Rally Against Arming Ukraine Draws Tens Of Thousands
— Pacific Geopolitics (@PacGeopolitics) February 26, 2023
The demonstrators massed at the Brandenburg Gate, calling for peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine and demanding Berlin cease supplying Kiev with weapons.#Berlin #Germany #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/WYt5LuhTtm
More than 50,000 people attended the "Peace Rally" where several held banners that read "Make Peace, Without Weapons" and "Diplomacy Instead of Arms Deliveries."
Some protesters also laid flowers on the wreck of a Russian T-72 tank placed in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin in a provocative move by German and Ukrainian activists in collaboration with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Read more: German MP slams West for using 'Stand with Ukraine' as pretext for war
