Twenty-eight Ukrainians demonstrated this Sunday in front of the Russian Embassy in Lisbon in solidarity with their fellow citizens detained by Russia, while the president of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal called for “the end of Russian imperialism.” “.
“If Ukraine disappears, Europe will disappear, and if Russian imperialism disappears, Europe will continue to prosper,” added Paulo Sadoja.
With no official data on how many Ukrainian citizens remain in custody since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Paulo Sadoja said the number is in the hundreds.
“We are few in number, but what we are doing here today is happening in several European capitals,” he noted, adding that “it doesn’t occur to civilized people what the Russians are doing to Ukrainian prisoners.”
Before the start of the second year of the war, the president of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal confirmed that the Ukrainians “will not lower their arms and will not give up the war” until they defeat the invader.
Paulo Cadoja stressed that this Christmas is “even sadder than last year” as there is no end in sight to the war started by Russia.
He was also glad that negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU) had already begun, considering this “clarifying” that the struggle of the Ukrainians “was not in vain.”
Thanking “the Portuguese people and politicians” for always helping Ukraine from the very beginning of the conflict, Paulo Sadoha stressed that Ukrainians living in Portugal “will not rest until the headquarters of the Russian Federation leaves its facilities in Lisbon” and until the flag of this country will not be raised. country, the “evil flag” continues to fly in the building, as in other European countries.
“Ukraine does not intend to destroy the Russian people, but rather to put an end to Russian imperialism,” he said.
The leader of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal once again called on the Portuguese population and politicians “not to leave Ukrainians alone.”
Of the 28 protesters, only one, an employee of the Ukrainian Embassy in Portugal, has a cousin detained by Russia.
Having arrived from Kyiv three months ago, she was “very worried” about what might happen to this family member.
At the end of the rally, shouting “Glory to Ukraine” and singing the national anthem, protesters headed to Restorers Square to take part in a rally that will take place today, where Ukrainian Christmas songs will be performed, an initiative “that will include the presence of an ambassador.”
Restauradores will also create a collection to send to Ukrainian citizens whose family members are imprisoned in Russia, concluded Paulo Sadoha.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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