Ukraine must be included in peace talks to ensure lasting security, refugees in Belfast from the war-torn country have said as they marked the third anniversary of the devastating conflict with Russia.
The group Ukrainians in Northern Ireland expressed their concerns as they gathered outside City Hall yesterday.
It comes at a crucial moment in the war, after US President Donald Trump’s early attempts to negotiate a settlement over the heads of Ukraine and Europe appeared to favour Russian interests.
Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray addresses crowd at Ukraine war commemoration at Belfast City Hall. (Luke Jervis).
Mr Trump has also been highly critical of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who said yesterday he would be ready to give up the presidency if doing so would achieve a lasting peace for his country under the security umbrella of the Nato military alliance.
Controversy was also sparked with Mr Trump’s branding of president Zelensky as a “dictator” to be blamed for the start of the war. The seismic shift in US policy has sparked fear in Belfast’s refugee community.
Over 100 people gathered outside City Hall. One refugee, Yulia, has been living in Belfast since 2022. She originally came from Dnipro.
The crowd at Belfast City Hall on Sunday. Image: Luke Jervis.
“All Ukrainians want is an end to this war. We long to have a peace deal, but it should be fair. We have already had peace deals in the past with Russia, but unfortunately with all of these, Russia became aggressive again,” she said.
“That is why it is important to ensure this peace deal is going to be a long-term solution for all of us.
“We already had the Budapest Memorandum, after 2015 we had another peace deal, and Russia used this time to get prepared and attack us again.
“Our people are still there, my great-grandmother, my great-grandad, they were born in Crimea, but in 2014 they needed to move as Crimea was occupied by Russia.
“We can’t keep going on like this forever. If we allow this to happen, we are basically showing the whole world that international law doesn’t work any more, and internationally recognised borders don’t matter anymore.”
Another refugee living in Belfast is photographer Alisa Lymamska. Originally from the contested Donbass region, she arrived in 2022.
“Trump calling Zelensky a dictator, but it is a lie. He was voted in by over 70% of Ukrainians. I don’t agree with his statement, I was surprised to hear it,” she said.
“If land is given to Russia, I would not feel safe going back home.”
Chairman of the Ukrainians in Northern Ireland group, Oleg Shenkaruk, told the crowd: “We have gathered here outside Belfast City Hall to remind the world that Ukraine is not alone.
“I would like to offer our sincerest thanks for the fantastic help offered to Ukrainians.”
Speaking yesterday at a forum of government officials in Kyiv marking the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the president offered to stand down if it could achieve peace.
Mr Zelensky said: “If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready.”
Ukrainians gather outside Belfast City Hall for the third anniversary of the invasion.
Responding to a journalist’s question on whether he would trade his office for peace, Mr Zelensky said: “I can trade it for Nato.”
His comment appeared to be aimed at recent suggestions by Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that elections should be held in Ukraine despite Ukrainian legislation prohibiting them during martial law.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Zelensky said Russia launched 267 strike drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday, more than in any other single attack of the war.
Ukraine’s air force said 138 drones had been shot down over 13 regions, with 119 more lost en route to their targets.
Three ballistic missiles had also been fired, the air force said. One person was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, according to the city military administration.
The attack came as leaders in Kyiv and across Europe are seeking to navigate the rapid changes in US foreign policy under Mr Trump, who in a matter of days has upended years of firm support for Ukraine, leading to fears that he would join with Moscow to force a settlement to the war without involving Ukraine and its European backers.
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have agreed to raise the importance of showing “united leadership” in backing Ukraine against Russian aggression during meetings with Mr Trump this week, Downing Street said.
The Prime Minister and French president used a phone call yesterday afternoon to reiterate their support for Kyiv as the two men prepare to separately visit Washington DC.
Both will be seeking to contain the growing transatlantic rift.
Those who attended the commemoration at Belfast City Hall held Ukraine flags. Image: Luke Jervis.
In a conversation yesterday, Number 10 said Sir Keir and Mr Macron agreed that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations regarding its own future and discussed how “we must all work together” to put the country in a strong position at “this crucial moment in global security”, a readout said.
“The Prime Minister repeated the UK’s steadfast commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed and reiterated the importance of Ukraine being at the centre of any negotiations to end the conflict,” Downing Street said.
“The UK and Europe must continue stepping up to meet their security needs and show united leadership in support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, which they would both discuss in the US in the coming week.
“The leaders agreed to stay in close contact.”
Sir Keir will seek to position the UK as a bridge between the US and Europe on his visit next week as tensions simmer.
A sign at the Belfast commemoration. Image: Luke Jervis.
Some European leaders and opposition figures have openly condemned Mr Trump’s remarks about Ukraine and Sir Keir has faced pressure to challenge the president when he visits Washington.
The Prime Minister has backed Mr Zelensky as a “democratically elected leader”, but avoided directly criticising the US president.
At the weekend, he and his Cabinet warned a weak peace deal would cause damage far beyond Ukraine, saying that including a US security guarantee to deter Russia attacking again is in America’s own interest.
Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “Nobody wants the bloodshed to continue, least of all the Ukrainians.
“But after everything that they have suffered, after everything they have fought for, there can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine must have a long-term, secure future.”
He added: “I’ve seen first-hand the devastation Putin has caused.
“Mark my words — what I have seen only makes me more determined to stand up for Ukraine.”