More than 1,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square on Monday evening to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The vigil, attended by MPs and Ukrainian community leaders, carried a strong message: no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender.
Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian World Congress, addressed the crowd via a pre-recorded speech streamed on a large screen, delivering a stark warning about the consequences of allowing Russia to prevail.
Ukraine’s fight is the world’s fight
In his speech, Mr Grod condemned any wavering of international support for Ukraine, particularly from the United States. He cautioned:
“If Ukraine falls, Europe is next – this is not just Ukraine’s fight, this is a fight for the future of freedom.”
The Ukrainian World Congress, an international non-governmental organisation representing Ukrainian communities in over 60 countries, has been vocal in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and resistance against Russian aggression. Mr Grod highlighted the atrocities committed during the war, including “the horrors, the systemic kidnapping, the torture, and the abuse of Ukraine’s most vulnerable, its children.”
He insisted:
“No tyrant can be allowed to redraw borders by force, no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender. This is not a conflict where deals can be made – you cannot negotiate with someone who is seeking to destroy you.”
Concerns over US support
Mr Grod expressed concern over what he described as a troubling shift in US policy, saying:
“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.”
His comments come amid growing uncertainty over continued American military and financial assistance to Ukraine, with political divisions in Washington raising fears that aid could be reduced or withdrawn.
Ukraine’s democratic resolve
In response to claims about Ukraine’s governance, Mr Grod reaffirmed the country’s democratic principles. He dismissed accusations that President Volodymyr Zelensky is ruling without democratic legitimacy, an allegation recently made by former US President Donald Trump, who referred to Mr Zelensky as “a dictator without elections”.
Mr Grod countered:
“Ukraine is a democracy. Every major opposition party has agreed to postpone elections until the war is over. Meanwhile, Putin has ruled for 25 years by jailing and murdering his opponents. He is not a leader – he’s a dictator.”
He warned that Russia would not stop its aggression unless it was defeated outright, stating:
“Putin will never stop. His goal is not just Ukrainian land – he wants to erase Ukraine as a nation.”
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Genocide in Ukraine
Referring to Russia’s justification for the invasion, Mr Grod rejected the Kremlin’s claims that its war is aimed at “de-Nazification”, calling it a cover for genocide.
“De-Nazification is a mask for genocide,” he declared, accusing Moscow of using false historical narratives to justify its war crimes.
A United front in London
The Trafalgar Square vigil was organised by a coalition of Ukrainian and British organisations, including the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Support Ukraine, the British-Ukrainian Aid charity, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and St Mary’s Ukrainian School.
Earlier in the day, a separate interfaith prayer service took place at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. The service, attended by politicians and religious leaders, featured hymns, prayers, and a commemorative candle-lighting ceremony.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel was among those present, alongside Migration and Citizenship Minister Seema Malhotra and Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
The events in London reflected the ongoing solidarity between the UK and Ukraine, as campaigners stressed the urgent need for continued international support in the face of Russian aggression.
