Thousands of people took part on Sunday afternoon in Brussels in a demonstration for peace in Ukraine, Belga News Agency reports.
The demonstrators, estimated at about 2,500 by capital police and 4,000 by the organisers, assembled at about 1:00 PM near the Gare du Nord train station, where they were addressed by representatives of participating organisations and associations.
These included trade unions, CNCD 11.11.11, Attac Bruxelles, the Belgian Coalition against nuclear weapons, and the National Coordination of Action for Peace and Democracy, CNAPD. A participant of Russian origin and one of Ukrainian origin also went on stage to call for a de-escalation.
"We are calling for an investment in a ceasefire through negotiations and active diplomacy,” Ludo De Brabander, spokesperson of the Vrede association, said. “Investing in negotiations is less costly than investing in weapons.”
“After the conflict, what will become of all these weapons that are in circulation?” he added. “We are worried about increasing military budgets. Billions are being invested in military equipment, but money can’t be found to develop alternative energy technology and there is also the issue of the energy behind this war.”
The demonstrators, who said they feared escalation in Ukraine might lead to a nuclear threat, marched to the Central Train Station behind a rainbow flag for peace, while smaller flags were scattered here and there in the crowd.
