This was not just any Saturday in Ukraine. The streets of kyiv had been decorated with military and police personnel for the visit of world leaders, who came to show their commitment on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion.. All of them have posed next to the mural that commemorates the Ukrainian dead in the conflict with Russia, thus supporting President Zelensky, who has expressed satisfaction with the support. Just five hundred meters away, and in a square that could be seen with the naked eye from the mural, another concentration was taking place at the same time.. On the esplanade in front of the Saint Sophia Cathedral, hundreds of people gathered with banners, flags and yellow and blue flares.. They were the relatives of Ukrainian hostages who demanded their release.

This is the case of María, whose husband was captured by Russia when he was fighting in the east of the country.. “They have taken him to a colony in Russia, I don't know where it is,” he said in statements to 20minutos.. This protester also maintains that the Ukrainian Government has not given her any information and does not understand why she is not part of any prisoner exchange.. “No one gives me information, neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian Government. I have also gone to the Red Cross, but no one tells me where my husband is, I don't understand why no one tells me anything,” she added excitedly while holding a banner in the middle of the square.

Alexandre's entire family also wanted to come to the rally with his image on a flag.. Vicka assures that both she and her children do not forget Alexandre for a single day, who was in a mechanized battalion when he disappeared more than a year ago.. Neither does Natalia, her 21-year-old son has been imprisoned by Russia for 22 months after taking over the Azovstal steel mill.. He says that he has even gone to Rome, to visit Pope Francis, and there he gave him a heart that symbolizes the city of Mariupol.. “For now I have no more information, for a time he was imprisoned in an area in the east of the country, where there were more than 150 Ukrainian prisoners in the hands of Russia.. A few months ago, a Russian bombing fell on that place and killed several Ukrainian prisoners.. I have the knowledge that my son was saved, but I don't know anything else about the subject,” he explained to this medium.

A group of Spaniards from the NGO Help To Ukraine have also come to support the cause, which has been helping to evacuate people and bringing humanitarian aid since the beginning of the Russian invasion.. One of the volunteers, Miguel Gutiérrez, assures that this organization “transmits the solidarity of the Spanish people” in what he describes as “an absolutely unjust and cruel war in a state attached to the European Union and, therefore, a neighbor.”. Help to Ukraine's work is with civil society, says Gutiérrez, in areas on the front lines of the war. “We are going to the east, to the complicated areas, where people live who have nothing, and who subsist on humanitarian aid,” he adds.. Food, warm clothing, medicines or equipment for hospitals are some of the contributions that this NGO has been making daily for two years now.

Ukraine's partners announce new aid

At the same time this was happening, the institutional offering took place in commemoration of the fallen. Among the guests was the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, who a few hours earlier had arrived by train in the Ukrainian capital.. Von del Leyen led the ceremony and took the opportunity to announce that the EU will donate more than 50 vehicles to improve the Police and Prosecutor's fleet and contribute to “stabilizing” the “liberated” territories.

“This delivery comes shortly after the EU gave a modern machine to detect mines,” recalled Von der Leyen, who, taking advantage of an official visit to Ukraine, has emphasized the need for the areas that are once again under Ukrainian control to return. to be “safe”. Von der Leyen has also confirmed that the EU will pay Ukraine this March a first payment of 4.5 billion euros that are part of the latest macro-financial aid package they approved.

Another of the leaders present in the Ukrainian capital was the Canadian Justin Trudeau. “Today, together with our allies and partners, Canada is committed to providing more assistance to Ukraine, including military and humanitarian support,” said Trudeau, who has announced a new $3 billion aid package.. This includes $320 million in military aid, which will be delivered before the end of the year, and $2.4 billion in loans for Ukraine that will be administered through the International Monetary Fund.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was also present. She signed a security agreement with Ukraine today and recalled her country's support in the war against Russia.. As has been done by the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo, whose country holds the temporary presidency of the Council of the EU.. The one who was not in Kiev this February 24 but did want to send a message of support was the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, who conveyed the message to the “heroic” Ukrainian people that the The EU will do “whatever it takes” to win the war against Russia, while urging the Twenty-Seven to provide “additional” military support.

Once again, Ukrainians remember a macabre anniversary in the streets. The open wound of many families still translates into anger to continue fighting. And, of course, in the pride of asking that the war end as soon as possible.