At least 12,000 people have taken part in a demonstration in Kyiv, protesting against the plans of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to grant the country’s Russian-occupied Donbas region permanent special status in return for holding local elections under Ukrainian law and in line with international standards.
The rally follows a similar protest of tens of thousands a week ago.
Marching through downtown Kyiv from the iconic Maidan square, the protesters of the “No Surrender” rally included several right-wing groups and Ukrainian veteran movements.
Earlier on October 14, protesters took to the building of the presidential administration, demanding that Mr Zelensky should stop the disengagement of Ukrainian troops from the Petrivske and Zolote regions, arguing that once this happens, pro-Russian rebels will occupy the territory.
“I want to once again assure everyone that there will be no surrender of Ukraine’s national interests,” the Ukrainian president said, responding to the protest.
[…] rallied in Kyiv, protesting the president’s support for the Steinmeier formula. These rallies go by names of “No Surrender” and include an array of right-wing groups and veteran […]