In US' Philadelphia, Ukrainians protest amid rising Russia-Ukraine border tensions

In midst of soaring tension between Ukraine, Russia, and West, local Ukrainian groups on Sunday organised rallies for peace on stairs of Philelphia Museum of Art in United States to support ir native land and urged Russia to cease its invasion plans. According to Philelphia Inquirer, local Ukrainians gained support from those with roots in neighbouring countries like Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, as well as ors. 

During protest rallies, speaker after speaker slammed Russian President Vlimir Putin and demanded action from Biden ministration. In cold temperatures, some 200 demonstrators mostly in ir 20s, showed up in Philly museum to showcase ir support. Some were even seen wearing Ukrainian hockey shirts. 

'Ukraine requires direct and immediate support from United States'

Eugene Luciw, he of local chapter of Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, stated, “Ukraine requires direct and immediate support from United States. You can see by Putin’s demands that he wants to restore Soviet empire. ... You’re looking at a conflagration on Ukrainian soil that’s going to resemble World War II,” Philelphia Inquirer reported. demonstration, titled "Philelphia Stands With Ukraine," took place amid concern of a comprehensive Russian invasion.  

As per Philelphia Inquirer, Russia has sent substantial numbers of soldiers and heavy weaponry to border areas and also has capability to attack from air or with artillery. Local Ukrainian people in Philelphia have been voicing concerns about safety of ir relatives in Ukraine. 

Organisers urge Biden to impose strong ecomic penalties on Russia

In dition to this, organisers of Philly rallies have urged everyone in attendance to contact White House and ir congressional representatives in US, pleing with President Joe Biden to impose strong ecomic penalties on Russia before an invasion takes place. Over 67,000 Ukrainians reside in Philelphia, with roots in a Black Sea country with a population of 44 million people that is about size of Texas. 

In dition to this, Biden informed his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Thursday that re was a good chance Russia will inve in February.   

While West has raised concern over massive number of soldiers deployment in border, Russia has rejected accusations that deployment is a threat to Ukraine's territorial integrity, describing it as routine training inside its borders.  Furrmore, Ukraine's President, Zelensky, urged western countries t to incite fear, claiming that predictions of an impending invasion were endangering country's ecomy.