Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered in central London to hear Jeremy Corbyn alongside other speakers sounding the alarm over the “unmistakeable nuclear threat” of the conflict in Ukraine.
Some members of the crowd – which included Russian, Polish and Lithuanian expats – wept as they voiced fears for those affected by the Russian invasion and its potential escalation.
Campaigners gathered outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House to wave signs saying “Russian troops out” and “No Nato Expansion”.
The former Labour leader was among speakers on the podium to call for an end to military action, branding Russia’s partial ceasefire purporting to allow for humanitarian corridors out of Ukraine as “cynical”.
“If you can have a ceasefire for humanitarian corridors for people to be evacuated from certain cities in Ukraine, obviously it’s better if people are evacuated than killed, but it’s so cynical. If you can agree a ceasefire to take civilians out, then agree a ceasefire to stop the war,” he said.
“Unless this war is stopped very quickly it will degenerate into a global conflict between nuclear armed power blocs in which there will be no, no, no winners, only millions and millions of losers.”
The MP, who is now an independent, also said reports of discrimination against people from African and Indian backgrounds on Ukraine’s borders had “utterly shocked” him.
People take part in a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture date: Sunday March 6, 2022.
Ian West
“I cannot be the only person in this square who was utterly shocked when I heard that African students were pushed off trains to make way for somebody else. That Indian students were denied access at the border into Poland and other places.”
He took aim at the UK Government’s “appalling” borders bill as he called for refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere to be welcomed into the UK on a larger scale.
“The Government needs to abandon its appalling Borders and Nationality Bill which would criminalise people for helping refugees… We support refugees, whoever they are, wherever they are, wherever they’ve come from,” he said.
People take part in a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ian West
The march was held by the Stop the War Coalition, as well as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the No to Nato network, and CODEPINK.
People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kirsty O'Connor
Stop the War has caused controversy in recent months for its Nato-critical stance.
It has described itself as opposed to the British Government’s “aggressive posturing” and Nato’s “eastward expansion”.
But it has repeatedly been accused of harbouring anti-Western sentiments.
One male protester, who did not give his name, said Nato countries were “provok[ing] Putin”.
However, some marchers voiced differing opinions on the bloc.
Monika Lichomska, a Polish warehouse worker, said she was there to show her support for Ukrainians and believes Nato support can offer security.
People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kirsty O'Connor
“In Poland, we are secure because of Nato. But if we’re not stopping (Russia) now they will come after our country,” the 37-year-old, who described Mr Putin as a “delusional lunatic”, said.
Zoja, an NHS worker whose parents are Russian, wiped away tears as she said she felt the “need to apologise” for Mr Putin’s actions.
“Russia does not represent Russian people. We are not standing with him, we are standing against him,” she said.
“He declared war in our name but I didn’t ask him to do it.
People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kirsty O'Connor
“Continue fighting and I believe we will win. Russian soldiers have nothing to fight for.”
Jane Calvert, an NHS worker, 61, said Britain should not “bait a bear” and should instead pursue de-escalation.
“(Mr Putin) is not a leader. He’s a bully and a dictator,” she said.
Andrew McCann, another NHS worker, said the protest appeared to have “hijacked” by those with other agendas.
“I’ve seen people here who want a Socialist Worker’s Party and ones that don’t want a Socialist Worker’s Party and that route can tend hijack these things.
“They’re entitled to be here but there seems to be a bit too much nowadays of, ‘You’re wrong and I’m right.’
“Can’t we have a common argument against violence towards innocent people?”
Mr McCann, who supports Stop the War and CND, said he is concerned about young people online being exposed to anti-Ukrainian propaganda.
“There’s a big push to make people believe that, in Ukraine, the whole country is racist, for example, and we need to do more to make people question that,” he said.
Protesters chanted “Stop the war” and “Russian troops out now” as they began their march through the centre of the capital.