KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As police watched warily, far-right and nationalist groups protested Monday in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, expressing anger at President Volodymyr Zelensky and his long-awaited peace plan for eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky paid homage Monday to Ukrainians killed in the five-year conflict with separatists, holding a moment of silence at a Kyiv monument. Later he visited Ukrainian military forces on the front line in the east, where fighting has killed at least 13,000 people since 2014.
Authorities expected tens of thousands of protesters at nationalist demonstrations planned throughout the day to mark Defense of the Homeland Day. Zelensky urged participants to avoid violence and warned of potential "provocations” from those who want to stoke chaos.
About 100 people gathered Monday morning in front of the president’s administration, waving banners protesting Zelensky’s tentative agreement to hold local elections in eastern Ukraine and his commitment to pull back heavy weaponry near separatist-held areas.
Critics call the accord a "capitulation” to Russia and fear it will lead to Russia having the upper hand in deciding the future for the conflict-torn region. "Peace after Victory” read one huge banner.
The head of one of the protesting groups, Veterans’ Brotherhood, said Zelensky held a closed-door meeting with nationalist groups last week to try to explain his position and calm tensions, but claimed the president said he has "no plan.”
Ukraine, Russia and the separatists signed an accord earlier this month to pull back heavy weaponry and to hold an election in the area at a later date. The pullback has not occurred because of shelling from both sides and threats from Ukrainian hardliners to hamper the disengagement.
Zelensky, a comedian who rose to the presidency this year on promises to end the conflict, is sticking to the accord, insisting that it’s the only way for his country to move forward.
He still enjoys the support of most Ukrainians, who argue he needs to be given time to fulfill his promises to revive the economy. Ukrainians have also shrugged off his embarrassing phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump that unleashed an impeachment inquiry in the United States.
"I love my country but I’m not like those nationalists, I don’t have time for protests. And what good does that bring?” asked Nadiya Kuzmenko, 68, a former arms factory worker who cleans houses to supplement her $125 monthly pension.