RIVER NORTH —Hundreds gathered at Water Tower Place Sunday in help of Ukraine, two days after a combative assembly between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the White Home.
Demonstrators adorned themselves with blue-and-yellow Ukraine flags, singing each the American and Ukrainian nationwide anthems and chanting, “Save Ukraine, save the world!” and “Russia is a terrorist state!”
These on the rally urged the US to help Ukraine in ending the battle with Russia, which started simply over three years in the past when Russia launched its full-scale invasion that has killed 1000’s and displaced tens of millions.
The demonstration got here after a contentious assembly between Trump and Zelensky final week that referred to as into query the United State’s help for Ukraine in its protection in opposition to Russia’s invasion.
Throughout a uncommon televised assembly on the White Home on Friday, Trump and Zelensky have been speculated to signal an settlement giving the US a lower of income from Ukraine’s pure assets, however the dialogue quickly turned accusatory and no settlement was signed. Trump and Vice President JD Vance charged that Zelensky was prolonging the battle and ungrateful for American help. Zelensky stated that Ukraine wants a safety assure from the U.S. as a result of it doesn’t belief Russia to stick to a ceasefire settlement.
Sunday’s rally was deliberate by the Illinois division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Delia Ramirez and Rep. Mike Quigley attended. After the audio system completed, demonstrators marched south on Michigan Avenue.
“Friday’s fiasco on the White Home simply shook us to our core,” stated Natalie, a first-generation Ukrainian American who confirmed as much as the rally along with her mates. She grew up in Ukrainian tradition, attending Ukrainian language faculties and church buildings, and has household in western Ukraine who dwell beneath the day by day menace of bombing.
“We’re so glad to see so many individuals out right here with us, not simply Ukrainians however Chicagoans and People realizing that this isn’t simply a difficulty affecting Ukraine,” Natalie stated. “It’s affecting the standing of the US. We’re now not a world chief for democracy and that’s stunning.”
Chicago has one of many largest Ukrainian populations within the nation. 100 thousand Ukrainians dwell within the Chicagoland space, with 10,000 in Ukrainian Village. Greater than 30,000 refugees have settled within the metropolis and the suburbs.
Maria Klimchak, govt director of the Kyiv Mohyla Basis of America, stated that Trump handled Zelensky disrespectfully, “as if he have been in kindergarten.” Klimchak spent the previous week in Ukraine supporting veterans with rehabilitation and college schooling. She stated that every day in Kyiv, there have been sirens from 9 p.m. to six a.m.
“I would really like Mr. Trump to go there for the tour and see what it seems to be like,” Klimchak stated.
The battle started on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, following eight years of aggression at its jap border as a consequence of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. In accordance with the Council on International Relations, Russia continues to occupy about 20 p.c of Ukraine.
Greater than 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have died within the Russia-Ukraine Battle, whereas 4 million are internally displaced and almost seven million have fled the nation.
Underneath President Joe Biden, the US was a important ally to Ukraine, offering billions in overseas assist, together with weaponry.
However beneath Trump, the U.S. has finished an about-face, viewing the help as potential waste and wanting to reinitiate an financial relationship with Russia after years of sanctions. In February, Trump’s negotiating group met with Russian officers in Saudi Arabia with out inviting Ukraine or different European nations. And in current votes on the United Nations, the U.S. voted counter to NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Group) colleagues in resolutions condemning Russia’s actions, signaling a willingness to align with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine has lengthy sought membership in NATO, which was based in 1949 as a barrier to Soviet Russia’s growth into Europe. NATO members usually comply with again one another militarily if one member nation is attacked. Zelensky has even stated that he would step down as president as a situation to becoming a member of NATO.
U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth has stated that he doesn’t consider NATO membership for Ukraine is a “sensible final result” and that the U.S. wouldn’t comply with any safety ensures that will ship troops to help Ukraine if attacked.
Trump has threatened to drag the U.S. out of NATO, which Sen. Durbin stated Sunday can be “probably the most disastrous improvement in American overseas coverage since World Battle II.”
“The US needs to be standing with NATO, not attacking it,” Durbin stated. “To assume that this president goes to embrace Vladimir Putin is an outrage. “
On Sunday, the UK and France agreed to work on a ceasefire plan with Ukraine and current it to the U.S. Different European leaders have spoken out in help of Ukraine following the failed White Home assembly.
“When Ukraine is beneath assault, all of us are beneath assault,” Rep. Ramirez stated. “As I watched that video, I acquired emotional. I believed, ‘How may I be a part of a rustic that I’ve referred to as house my total life and have a president — along with his horrible vp and with the secretary of state — watch what is going on and do nothing?’”
“As a Guatemalan American, I stand with Ukraine in the present day,” Ramirez added. “We should defend its democracy as a result of it’s interconnected with our democracy. Know that so long as Congressman Quigley and Senator Durbin and myself and the remainder of the Democratic delegation is round, we is not going to enable a dictator — I do know you’re questioning which one I’m speaking about, perhaps each — to negate the livelihood of Ukrainians.”
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