People in dozens of cities in Italy and Europe call for peace negotiations one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The mobilisation of Italian and European civil society is growing day by day in support of prospects for peace for Ukraine, starting with a cease-fire and leading to peace negotiations. The initiatives – coordinated by Europe for Peace – will culminate in numerous street events convened to recall the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

So far, in Italy there are more than 70 cities with confirmed initiatives (including Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Bari, Palermo, Cagliari, Florence, Bologna…). There are also numerous initiatives throughout Europe: over 20 events in Germany (including Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg) and Spain (including Barcelona, Madrid, Seville) and Portugal. More than 15 events so far have been confirmed in France (including Paris). Mobilisation is also confirmed for London, Brussels and Vienna.

The initiatives are based on the demands for Peace which mobilized more than 100.000 people to march the streets of Rome last 5 November: “Wars and weapons aim at victory over the enemy but do not lead to peace: they tend to become permanent and only cause new suffering for populations. Instead we must make win peace, restore violated law, guarantee shared security. There is no such thing as a just war, only peace is just. War is made by armies, peace is made by peoples”. Peace is the victory we need, and for this we need as soon as possible a ceasefire, to open the way for peace negotiations, as well as concrete steps towards nuclear disarmament.

In Italy, mobilizing initiatives will kick off with the Night March for Peace from Perugia to Assisi in the evening of Thursday 23 February, and symbolically culminate in Rome in the afternoon of Saturday 25 February, with an event promoted by the national coalition: a candlelight procession for Peace that will end at the Campidoglio Square.