Latest news with #PaulGrod
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
No ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender, Trafalgar Square vigil told
A warning that 'no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender' has been made at a Trafalgar Square vigil marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. More than 1,000 people filled the central London square on Monday evening in a gathering also attended by MPs. The president of the Ukrainian World Congress criticised the US for wavering on its support for Ukraine. In a pre-recorded speech, streamed on to a large screen, Paul Grod warned: 'If Ukraine falls, Europe is next – this is not just Ukraine's fight, this is a fight for the future of freedom.' The president of the international non-governmental organisation (NGO), which represents Ukrainian communities in more than 60 countries, described 'the horrors, the systemic kidnapping, the torture, and the abuse of Ukraine's most vulnerable, its children'. 'No tyrant can be allowed to redraw borders by force, no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender,' he said. 'This is not a conflict where deals can be made, you cannot negotiate with someone who is seeking to destroy you. 'Today we face a troubling moment – for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion, the United States has begun to waver. 'This week the US refused to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's war – this is unacceptable. Now more than ever the world must stand united, Ukraine's fight is the world's fight.' Mr Grod emphasised that Ukraine is a democracy and 'every major opposition party' has agreed to postpone elections until the end of the war. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin 'has ruled for 25 years by jailing and murdering his opponents', adding: 'He is not a leader he's a dictator.' Last week US President Donald Trump described Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'a dictator without elections' in a tirade on social media. Mr Grod said: 'We must be absolutely clear, Russia will not stop unless it is defeated. 'Putin will never stop, his goal is not just Ukrainian land, he wants to erase Ukraine as a nation.' He added that 'de-Nazification is a mask for genocide'. Moscow said the 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine was one of the key goals of the invasion. Organisers of the Trafalgar Square gathering included the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Support Ukraine, the British-Ukrainian Aid charity, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and St Mary's Ukrainian School. Earlier on Monday shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel joined other MPs at a prayer service at a Ukrainian church in central London. Hymns, prayers and a commemorative candle lighting were delivered during the hour-long interfaith service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. Dame Priti was joined by migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender, Trafalgar Square vigil told
A warning that 'no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender' has been made at a Trafalgar Square vigil marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. More than 1,000 people filled the central London square on Monday evening in a gathering also attended by MPs. The president of the Ukrainian World Congress criticised the US for wavering on its support for Ukraine. In a pre-recorded speech, streamed on to a large screen, Paul Grod warned: 'If Ukraine falls, Europe is next – this is not just Ukraine's fight, this is a fight for the future of freedom.' The president of the international non-governmental organisation (NGO), which represents Ukrainian communities in more than 60 countries, described 'the horrors, the systemic kidnapping, the torture, and the abuse of Ukraine's most vulnerable, its children'. 'No tyrant can be allowed to redraw borders by force, no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender,' he said. 'This is not a conflict where deals can be made, you cannot negotiate with someone who is seeking to destroy you. 'Today we face a troubling moment – for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion, the United States has begun to waver. 'This week the US refused to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's war – this is unacceptable. Now more than ever the world must stand united, Ukraine's fight is the world's fight.' Mr Grod emphasised that Ukraine is a democracy and 'every major opposition party' has agreed to postpone elections until the end of the war. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin 'has ruled for 25 years by jailing and murdering his opponents', adding: 'He is not a leader he's a dictator.' Last week US President Donald Trump described Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'a dictator without elections' in a tirade on social media. Mr Grod said: 'We must be absolutely clear, Russia will not stop unless it is defeated. 'Putin will never stop, his goal is not just Ukrainian land, he wants to erase Ukraine as a nation.' He added that 'de-Nazification is a mask for genocide'. Moscow said the 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine was one of the key goals of the invasion. Organisers of the Trafalgar Square gathering included the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Support Ukraine, the British-Ukrainian Aid charity, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and St Mary's Ukrainian School. Earlier on Monday shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel joined other MPs at a prayer service at a Ukrainian church in central London. Hymns, prayers and a commemorative candle lighting were delivered during the hour-long interfaith service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. Dame Priti was joined by migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian World Congress launches global advocacy campaign #StandWithUkraine
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has launched a global advocacy campaign marking the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Source: Ukrainian World Congress Details: The campaign aims to remind the world about the ongoing war and its consequences for Ukraine and the global community. It also seeks to urge democratic governments to strengthen their support for Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia to end the war, and restore Ukraine's territorial integrity. The worldwide initiative is supported by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Center for Ukraine Victory, and Communities Army of Ukraine. It runs under the slogan: Stand With Ukraine – Unite for Ukrainian Victory. A key component of the campaign is an interactive map where Ukrainian communities across the world can register their events, showcasing unity and support for Ukraine's victory. At the start of the campaign, nearly 1,000 events had been registered across more than 600 cities in 78 countries. Ukrainians and supporters worldwide can register their events or find a nearby gathering at Ukrainian World Congress website. Another unifying element of the campaign is Global Alarm. On 24 February 2025, at 18:00 local time, Ukrainian communities worldwide will issue air-raid warnings as a reminder of the ongoing war and a call to action. Various events, including rallies, marches, flash mobs, prayer gatherings, moments of silence, building illuminations, lectures, exhibitions, and film screenings, will take place worldwide on 22, 23, and 24 February. UWC President Paul Grod has urged Ukrainians worldwide to support Ukraine. He will be speaking at the Stand With Ukraine rally in Washington today. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
