Topline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late Wednesday night called on people worldwide to stand with Ukraine in demonstrations on March 24, exactly one month after Russia first invaded Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on … [+]
Key Facts
“Come to your squares, your streets, make yourselves visible and heard,” Zelensky pleaded in his nightly address, during a segment notably delivered in English rather than Ukrainian.
The president argued Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have broad implications for Europe and the rest of the world, a message he has often repeated in recent weeks.
Zelensky also urged Russian citizens to push back against the invasion and, if possible, “leave Russia so as not to give your taxes to the war”—the latest in a series of messages from Zelensky directed toward residents of Russia over the last month.
Crucial Quote
“From this day and after that, show your standing, come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities, come in the name of peace, come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine,” Zelensky requested of people worldwide. “The war of Russia is not only the war against Ukraine. Its meaning is much wider.”
Key Background
Antiwar protests have materialized in several countries, including Russia, where thousands of demonstrators have reportedly been arrested and critics of the country’s military efforts face the threat of heavy legal consequences. Russian leaders likely had not expected the current phase of the invasion to last a month: CIA Director Bill Burns said earlier in March that Russian President Vladimir Putin had aimed to seize Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv within the first two days of invading, effectively toppling the Ukrainian government. But after four weeks, Ukraine continues to keep Russia at bay outside the capital, with U.S. and U.K. intelligence reporting Wednesday that Ukrainian forces have gone on the offensive and pushed Russian troops further away from the city’s center.
What To Watch For
The invasion’s one-month mark comes as President Joe Biden is set to meet with other NATO leaders in Brussels, where they will announce another package of coordinated sanctions reportedly targeting Russian legislators.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/masonbissada/2022/03/23/zelensky-calls-for-global-demonstrations-as-russian-invasion-enters-2nd-month/