On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 300 demonstrators assembled in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Organized by Stand With Ukraine Japan, the event saw participants proudly waving Ukrainian flags and displaying signs that called for the return of freedom and condemned half-hearted peace arrangements.

At the protest, Ihor Ihnatiev, one of the organizers, used his platform to highlight how the relentless fog of war has shattered lives and dashed personal aspirations. He criticized international efforts, specifically U.S.-brokered cease-fire proposals that exclude Ukraine from negotiations, asserting that the crowd’s goal is to achieve a lasting peace that guarantees the country’s security.

A Ukrainian protester in her mid-thirties expressed a sentiment shared by many at the gathering, stating that true peace for Ukraine must be synonymous with victory. She argued against any temporary cease-fire that would leave Russian occupation intact, emphasizing that such a solution would be unacceptable to those who call for Ukraine's genuine freedom and future.