On February 22, a large-scale rally took place in the capital of the United States of America in support of Ukraine, dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Thousands of people gathered near the Lincoln Memorial to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people and call for ongoing support for Kyiv.
During the event, activists performed the National Anthem of Ukraine and symbolically activated the air raid siren sound. The attendees were addressed by Ukraine's ambassador to the USA, Oksana Markarova, the EU ambassador, Jovița Neluțușene, representatives of the clergy, and Ukrainian organizations in the USA.
After the rally, participants marched to the White House and also to the Russian diplomatic mission in Washington. They carried posters with slogans such as “The only acceptable agreement is Russia's defeat” and “Support Ukraine.”
Markarova, addressing the community, emphasized that Ukraine will not cease its fight: “We will never surrender, because evil must be defeated.” Her words were supported by the president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Mykhailo Savkiv, who noted that this action was the largest since the start of the war. “Our message to Congress and the U.S. administration is that support for Ukraine must be unwavering. We must end the war with Ukrainian victory,” he emphasized.
Many participants of the rally had specifically come to Washington from other regions. Anna Yaskiv, a Ukrainian by origin, traveled from San Francisco to express her support: “Being Ukrainian is an important part of my life. I couldn't stay at home.” Judge Orest Yeina from Arizona stressed that the Ukrainian diaspora in the USA needs to have a more active influence on the authorities: “We must pressure Washington so that political changes do not affect support for Ukraine.”
President of the World Congress of Ukrainians, Pavlo Groud, stressed that such events in the USA are of key importance, as Washington plays a central role in helping Ukraine. He called on Ukrainians in the USA to combat Russian disinformation, which tries to convince Americans of the futility of supporting Kyiv. “Ukraine will win, but it needs help. The USA has already allocated $70 billion in military aid, and these funds have been used with great benefit for the entire democratic world,” Groud noted.
Numerous rally participants emphasized that Russia's war against Ukraine poses a threat not only to Europe but also to the global order. One participant from New York remarked: “Ukraine is a barrier between Russia and the West. If Russia doesn't stop here, the next could be the Baltic states or even Europe.”
The organizers of the event expect it to attract the attention of American legislators. According to activist Marichka Glytjen, many congressmen sent their representatives to observe the event, indicating growing political interest in Ukraine’s issue.
Up to the third anniversary of the war, over 1,000 similar events are planned worldwide in 80 countries, and this year's slogan for the actions is “Stand with Ukraine. Unite in the victory of justice.” The organization of the event in Washington was handled by Ukrainian communities such as US Ukrainian Activists, United Help Ukraine, Razom for Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s diplomatic missions in the USA.
