"If we surrender, Putin will continue the war with more force, we don't know where, but he will; we have already seen that his dirty war is here, in Spain, among us, in the province." It is the message of the Ukrainian community of Alicante, in the voice of Anna Shkalenko, president of the Friends of Ukraine Association, who led the demonstration held at noon today in the city.
When two years have passed since the rude invasion, "unfortunately we are no better than then," laments Shkalenko, "but now we are here so that everyone remembers that we must stop this war no matter what, because we are already entering the third year of the war in the heart of Europe, it is incredible".
"The victory of Ukraine is the victory of the entire world," reads the banner that precedes a very long flag carried by two rows of protesters, one hundred meters of blue and yellow fabric that symbolize the resistance of the people in the face of an aggression that does not cease.
"Some people believe that we have to surrender," says the spokesperson, "but if we surrender today, tomorrow he (Putin) is going to gain strength and start that war again, we don't know where, but if Ukraine surrenders, "He's going to do it with more strength and more desire. We have to stop it here."
In reference to the recent murder of a Russian deserter in the province, in an urbanization of La Vila Joiosa, Shkalenko points out that it is a sign that "the war is expanding, that is what we have seen, his dirty war is here, it is in Spain, it is among us, in our province".
The Ukrainian community has shown solidarity with the victims of the Valencia fire, collecting donations through a Facebook account. This afternoon, in the capital of Turia, two events are planned, one at 5 p.m. in the Central Market, and a rally at 7 p.m. in the Plaza de la Virgen.
