TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A rally marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine was held in front of Russia's de facto embassy in Taiwan on Sunday.
The protest, titled "No Free Ukraine — No World Justice," was organized by Taiwan Stands with Ukraine (TSWU) to denounce Russia’s ongoing war and remind the world of the injustice faced by Ukraine. Demonstrators gathered outside the Moscow representative office to show solidarity with Ukraine and demand justice for its people.
TSWU spokespersons pointed out that more than 30 years have passed since Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum in 1994, relinquishing its nuclear arsenal in exchange for economic aid and security assurances. However, they said that while Russia continues its "full-scale invasion and genocide of the Ukrainian people," the US now expects Ukraine "to give up on millions of our citizens, and our homes, that still remain in the hands of Russia."
Despite enduring immense hardship, the group declared that "Ukrainians and our supporters around the world remain resolute." It noted that millions of Ukrainians would be staging protests worldwide in the coming days. The demonstrators in Taipei aimed to remind the world "who the aggressor in this war is" and reaffirm that "Taiwan still stands with Ukraine."
Alex Khomenko, the protest organizer, has led weekly demonstrations outside the Russian office for three years. In his speech, he dismissed social media rumors that the protests were funded by politicians or the government.
"We're human. We love our families, we love our countries, and we love our freedom," he said. He insisted that the determination of the Ukrainian people, along with those fighting on the front lines, is "stronger than war, stronger than any government, and it will prevail."
Taiwanese influencer Minnan Wolf (閩南狼) also spoke at the event. In December, he released a two-part documentary exposing Beijing’s United Front tactics in shaping Taiwanese public opinion. Addressing the crowd, he stated, "Your fight is our fight," and laid out three key demands:
- Punish the aggressor – Russia must face justice for its crimes against humanity.
- Support Ukraine – The world must provide Ukraine with the weapons and resources needed to win.
- Never accept tyranny – Russia’s atrocities must never be normalized.
He stressed that Ukraine is not alone and its courage has given hope to all those who fight for freedom. He said the Taiwanese stand with the people of Ukraine and declared “We will not surrender. We will not be silenced. We will not rest until justice is done.”
Ukrainian surgeon Oleksandr Sokolenko, 28, stressed that his people are fighting for democratic values and all people who believe in democracy. Sokolenko said that Ukraine has been struggling for its sovereignty from Russia for three centuries, with many millions dying in the 20th century alone from the Russian Civil War, the Ukraine Famine, and WWII.
“Some people think oh you just need to talk, but you can talk when you have a strong position," said Sokolenko. He took issue with Trump's claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a “dictator” as Ukraine regularly holds free and fair elections that are open to international observers, “unlike our neighbors (Russia and Belarus).”
A 23-year-old engineer surnamed Huang (黃) dressed in military fatigues and carrying a Ukraine flag at the event said he has supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022, but this was his first time attending a Ukrainian rally. Huang warned that Trump's transactional treatment of Ukraine has created a crisis in the free world and if the US abandons Ukraine, it raises the prospect of the US also abandoning Taiwan as part of a deal with China.
Huang concluded that Taiwan needs to strengthen its defenses to achieve "peace through strength." He emphasized that Taiwan should build strength through solidarity.
