KYIV -- Several thousand people took part on February 12 in a march in Kyiv to show unity amid fears of a Russian invasion.
Demonstrators marched behind a large banner reading "Ukrainians Will Resist" and chanted the phrase as they waived Ukrainian flags on their way across the capital in frigid temperatures to Independence Square, where they sang the national anthem.
Other messages seen during the March of Unity included signs that ran the gamut between peaceful resolution and aggression. While the words “War Is Not The Answer” appeared on one sign, another said “Invaders Must Die."
Participants said the main goal of the action was to attract additional world attention to Ukraine and Russia's aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who attended police drills in the southern Kherson region, said a Russian attack could happen at any time but pushed back against what he called excessive amounts of information about a major looming war.
"The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country,” he said. “And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us. I can't agree or disagree with what hasn't happened yet. So far, there is no full-scale war in Ukraine."
In a separate statement, the head of Ukraine's armed forces said Russia wouldn't take Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, or any other Ukrainian city.
"We have strengthened the defense of Kyiv. We have gone through the war and due preparation. Therefore, we are ready to meet enemies and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins, and NLAW," armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny said, referring to an array of anti-rocket and antiaircraft weapons received from the West. "Welcome to hell!" he added.
Tension has mounted as Russia has built up more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine. The United States has said an invasion could start any day. Russia denies planning to invade.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone calls with U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on February 12 as Western countries continue their efforts to deter Russia from invading.
Summaries of the calls indicate little progress was made to ease the heightened tensions.
