Two weeks after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Berlin is the focus of nationwide protests against the war on Sunday. 100,000 people expect the organizers on Sunday at the second major peace demonstration in the federal capital. The motto: “Stop the war. Peace and solidarity for the people of Ukraine”. Protests are also planned in Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Leipzig.

A broad call to the demo Alliance of more than 50 organizations up, the Evangelical Church, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Pax Christi, Bread for the World, Greenpeace, Friends of Nature, Pro Asyl, Campact and many other organizations will be there. The alliance had already organized the first major demo on February 27, for which, according to police estimates, 100,000 people had gathered – the organizers even spoke of half a million participants.

“The suffering of the people in Ukraine is becoming more and more dramatic. We feel with them and stand by their side,” it says in the new call on the Internet. “Our solidarity also goes to the people who are raising their voices against the war in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and so many other cities in Russia. We are deeply connected by their strength and courage.”

In addition to calls for an immediate end to all attacks and a withdrawal of the Russian military, organizers are in favor of peace negotiations and a Europe free of nuclear weapons “including Ukraine and Russia”. “We support harsh economic sanctions specifically designed to cut the channels of war financing.” THEY should apply to the political and economic leadership, but not to the Russian people. In view of the German dependence on Russian supplies, the call also contains a plea for a new energy policy: “We have to get out of coal, oil and gas as quickly as possible.”

It starts at 12 p.m. at Alexanderplatz

Unlike the first large-scale demonstration three days after the beginning of the war, which consisted of a rally on June 17th Street, this time the demonstration is to go through Berlin-Mitte. The starting point is at 12 p.m. at Alexanderplatz.

This is the route:

• Alexanderplatz
• green road
• Gertraudenstr
• Leipziger Street
• Ebertstr
• June 17 Street

A rally will take place at the foot of the Victory Column on the Großer Stern from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Speakers include DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann, Greenpeace spokeswoman Ildiko Reiser and people from Ukraine.

[Live dabei: Über die Demonstration berichten wir am Sonntag in unserem Newsblog zu den Auswirkungen des Ukraine-Kriegs auf Berlin.]

In order to comply with the Corona rules, the organizers ask that only vaccinated, tested and with a mask attend the rally.

A part of the demonstration train should also be a Carnival float with a simple papier-mâché Putin, who is stuffing Ukraine down his throat. It comes from the Düsseldorf car manufacturer Jacques Tilly and was already driven through Berlin to the Brandenburg Gate on Saturday. The greedy Vladimir Putin with the slogan “Suffocate on it!!!” rolled through Düsseldorf on Shrove Monday.

The carnival procession there had already been canceled before the Ukraine war and moved to the end of May due to the corona pandemic. Now the car has been brought to Berlin by a private initiative.

[Alle aktuellen Nachrichten zum russischen Angriff auf die Ukraine bekommen Sie mit der Tagesspiegel-App live auf Ihr Handy. Hier für Apple- und Android-Geräte herunterladen.]

In addition to the big demo, it will be on Sunday more rallies and protests in support of Ukraine – albeit much smaller. These include a dance demonstration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Russian Embassy on Unter den Linden boulevard, which is also directed against discrimination against non-white and queer refugees, as well as a protest from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Georgian Embassy on Rauchstrasse in the zoo.

The Ukrainian initiative Vitsche Berlin has again registered its own demonstration. From 2 p.m. the Ukrainians want to stand up for their country at Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

The motto is “Protect the Ukrainian sky – save Europe!”. However, the West is unanimously rejecting the associated demand for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, so as not to give Russia any reason to also wage war against NATO countries. (with dpa)