No Capitulation protest dominates EuroMaidan anniversary

More than 5,000 pro-Western liberals and Ukrainian nationalists
gathered at the world-famous maidan in central Kyiv on Nov. 21 to commemorate
the six-year anniversary of the EuroMaidan movement. The messages voiced during
the meeting, organized under the slogan of “We Have Dignity!,” was directed
towards not only commemorating those who died for the Ukrainian cause, but also
mobilizing the public against what is widely viewed as President Zelensky’s
plans to capitulate to Russia.

Among the leaders to address the maidan crowd was
Ukrainian paramilitary leader Ihor Mazur, European Solidarity party MP Sofia
Fedyna, as well as Voice Party Head Sviatoslav Vakarchuk. Leaders of the “No
Capitulation” movement addressed the public to call upon resisting surrendering
Ukrainian sovereignty and Western integration to Russia.

A few hundred members of the nationalist Freedom party
set up tents at the President’s Office on Nov. 21 to warn Zelensky about the
potential for another maidan protest if he intends to fulfill the Minsk Accords
on Russia’s terms to end the war in Donbas. The Freedom party also called for
extending the moratorium on the farmland market.

Zenon Zawada: This
gathering was not the least bit spontaneous. The well-constructed stage and
printed badges for its organizers and speakers indicate it was organized,
likely with the backing of former President Poroshenko and his associates at
the European Solidarity party. So this Nov. 21 gathering has all the
indications of a dress rehearsal for the protests to emerge when President
Zelensky likely agrees to make painful compromises that Russian President Putin
will be demanding at the December Normandy Format summit (and afterwards).

However, the strong electoral results for Zelensky
and the People’s Servant party in this year’s elections indicate that Ukrainians
are interested in ending the war in Donbas more than any other political issue
at the moment. (Polls also indicate this.) So the “No Capitulation” movement
will have its work cut out for itself in convincing the public to resist the
current movement towards appeasement of Russian aggression.