Protests against Russian invasion of Ukraine held in cities across Germany

FRANKFURT, Germany — Tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets in cities across Germany today to call for peace and protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, police and organizers say.

A sea of people carrying yellow and blue signs that reads “Stop Putin” and “Stop the War” mass at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, with police estimating turnout in the capital at between 20,000 and 30,000.

In Frankfurt, around 11,000 people gather in solidarity with Ukrainians, according to a police spokesman, who said the rallies proceeded “peacefully and without incident.”

Demonstrators there wave Ukrainian and European Union flags and chant “Stoppt den Krieg” (Stop the war), a reporter at the scene says.

Colorful marches also take place in Stuttgart, Leipzig and Hamburg, drawing in young and old, including families with children.

The demonstrations were organized by an alliance of more than 40 rights organizations, campaign groups, unions and church groups.

The organizers put turnout nationwide at around 125,000 people.

In a written appeal, organizers condemned the “increasingly brutal” attacks against civilians in Ukraine, and praised the courage of Russians protesting against Moscow’s actions.

“Together, we call on Putin to immediately stop the attacks, withdraw from Ukraine and restore the nation’s territorial integrity,” the letter says.

The turnout in Berlin today was smaller than the 100,000-strong crowd that attended a Ukraine solidarity march in the capital two weeks ago, three days after Russia launched its invasion.