Taipei: Around 100 Ukrainians and supporters gathered outside the de-facto Russian embassy in Taipei on Sunday, aiming to remind the international community that "Russia is the aggressor" as the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches. "We are here to remind the world that Russia is the aggressor," said Oleksandr Shyn, a Korean-Ukrainian and one of the event's organizers, outside the de-facto embassy, officially known as the Representative Office in Taipei for the Moscow-Taipei Coordination Commission.
According to Focus Taiwan, Shyn's comments were a direct response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent false assertion that Ukraine initiated the conflict with Russia. Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing Ukraine of starting the war and labeling Zelenskyy as a "dictator" who refuses to hold elections. Shyn defended Zelenskyy, affirming his legitimacy as Ukraine's president and the commander-in-chief of the army. He explained that under Ukraine's constitution, national elections cannot be conducted during martial law, as they would jeopardize citizens' safety.
Shyn expressed disappointment with the U.S.'s changing stance on Ukraine, stating that many Ukrainians feel "betrayed" by the shift. He urged for a change in this position, hoping for rational support in the ongoing conflict. Sunday's protest served not only as a call for international support but also highlighted Taiwan's solidarity with Ukraine. Shyn emphasized that Taiwan has been a steadfast ally, with its government allocating over US$130 million for infrastructure projects in Ukraine and private donations exceeding US$32 million, as reported by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Taiwanese YouTuber Chen Po-yuan, known for his work on Chinese influence operations in Taiwan, also attended the protest. Chen expressed his support for Ukraine, drawing parallels between Ukraine's situation and Taiwan's potential future. He stressed that Taiwan must support Ukraine, as a loss for Ukraine could have dire implications for Taiwan. "If Ukraine loses, Taiwan will definitely be next," he asserted, underscoring the importance of global solidarity against strong dictatorships.