A rally calling for peace and freedom for Ukraine was held in Tokyo on Sunday, three-and-a-half years after Russia began its invasion of the country.
A group supporting Ukrainian evacuees in Japan organized the rally in front of Shibuya train station. Sunday also marked the anniversary of Ukraine declaring independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991.
The participants held up Ukrainian flags and chanted, “Peace for Ukraine” and “Stop the War.”
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency says that 1,937 Ukrainian evacuees were living in Japan as of the end of July.
A Ukrainian participant said the situation in the country remains “terrible.” She expressed hope that Ukraine will take back its territory and that the conflict will be resolved as soon as possible.
An evacuee reacted negatively to the reports about US President Donald Trump’s initiative to arrange a summit between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
She said her expectations are low because even if the meeting is realized, she doubts Russia will keep its promise. She said she wants to return to Ukraine if peace is achieved, but she will stay in Japan until then.
AloJapan.com