On April 19, a large-scale rally in support of Ukraine took place in São Paulo, Brazil. The event brought together the Ukrainian community, representatives of other nationalities, human rights activists, and all those for whom freedom and dignity are not just words, but fundamental values.
The main slogan of the action rang out clearly and uncompromisingly:
“If Russia stops shooting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops defending itself, Ukraine ends.”
These words capture the full essence of today’s reality. This is neither political rhetoric nor emotional exaggeration; it is the lived experience of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine did not choose war. It chose defense—of its life, its children, its culture, and its very right to exist.
São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and one of Latin America’s primary metropolises, became another voice of international solidarity. Participants held Ukrainian flags and posters calling for peace and justice, speaking on the necessity of supporting Ukraine at a global level. Words of gratitude were offered to Brazilian society for its openness and support of the local Ukrainian community.
The presence of Iranians who joined the rally was particularly symbolic. The people of Iran are also traversing a difficult path in their struggle for human rights and freedom. Their support is a profound gesture of solidarity between nations that understand the price of resistance and the importance of dignity. When people from different countries, cultures, and continents unite around shared values, it creates a powerful moral front.
The rally in São Paulo demonstrated that freedom knows no borders. Ukraine’s struggle is not merely a national issue; it is part of a global process to protect international law, sovereignty, and the right of nations to self-determination.
Today, Ukrainians around the world continue to remind us: peace is possible only when aggression ceases—when the one who came with weapons stops. And until that happens, Ukraine has both the right and the duty to defend itself.
Events like this rally in Brazil prove that Ukraine is not alone. It is supported by people of different languages and cultures who believe in the power of truth and justice. Solidarity becomes the bridge that connects continents in a shared pursuit of peace.
Freedom is a value that requires courage. And today, that courage resonated in the heart of São Paulo.
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Author: Olena Zhukova
Photo: Gilson Cesar Holovaty