Around 200 people gathered in Taipei on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukrainians, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country entered its second year.
Morale at the rally at Liberty Square was high, with people periodically chanting “Glory to Ukraine” and expressing optimism about the eventual victory for the country.
Alex Khomenko, a member of the group Taiwan Stands with Ukraine, said the year-long fight against Russian troops had shown that Ukrainian people “are strong” and “will continue to be [strong].”
The group, which organized Saturday’s gathering, was formed shortly after Russian troops invaded Ukraine a year ago Friday, on Feb. 24, 2022. Its aim is to mobilize support for the people of Ukraine.
“These people [Russians] are coming to our country and trying to kill us, destroy us, and take our country away … If we’ve stood for so long, why wouldn’t we keep standing and eventually, with the help of the world, kick them out [of the country] and win the war?” Khomenko told CNA.
“We are on the right side of the history,” said Khomenko, a Ukrainian national who originated from Kharkiv but has lived in Taipei with his Taiwanese wife and children for roughly 18 months.
A Ukrainian model who identified herself as Dana, shared similar views.
“Ukraine will definitely win [the war] because we are protecting our land,” said Dana, a Kyiv native who has since the start of the war relocated to Poland, Italy, France and South Korea before arriving in Taiwan two months ago.
“We want to be free, and they [Russians] want our land,” she told CNA. “This is the difference between us.”
Yurii Poita, a visiting research fellow at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said Ukraine will “win the war despite all the difficulties.”
Ukrainian people are very much determined to win, Poita said, adding that they have continued to stay united, volunteer at the frontlines, and seek help from outside the country.
According to Khomenko, a member of Taiwan Stands with Ukraine, Saturday’s rally was meant to remind Taiwanese society that Ukrainians continue to fight against Russia’s aggression.
The war is “far away” from Taiwan but it remains instrumental “for the safety of the entire world,” Khomenko said.
On the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly approved a non-biding resolution calling for Russia to end its hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its troops from the country.
Taiwan’s government has made similar calls.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Moscow to “immediately stop military aggression against Ukraine” and “respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
At Saturday’s gathering, Taipei City Councillor Miao Po-ya (???) said the people of Ukraine have demonstrated their “resilience” and “determination” to combat Russian forces over the past year.
They are not only fighting for their country, but also defending the world’s freedom and democracy, she said.
If Ukrainian people had chosen to cave in to Moscow’s ambitions a year ago, the world today would have been completely different, she said, urging Taiwanese people to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Legislator and New Power Party Chairwoman Claire Wang (???) and Hsieh Pei-fen (???), a spokeswoman for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, also took part in the rally.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel