The largest public protest in nearly ten years occurred today, on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Over 100,000 people gathered in the city of Kiev, Ukraine to show their disapproval of the country’s decision to forgo political agreements that were planned to be made with the European Union. Instead, The New York Times reports that the Ukrainian government has altered its focus to concentrate on improving economic relations with the neighboring country of Russia.
The trade deals with the European Union had been in the works for four years until they were abandoned suddenly.
Protesters, many of whom were seen waving flags of the European Union and chanting “Ukraine is Europe!”, are reported by the BBC to be in support of the future of Ukraine, and not with its harsh past, which involves Russia.
“We want to be together with Europe. We want our children to have a future and not be pressured by Russia,” one protester said.
Ukraine became independent of the Soviet Union after the Union dissolved in 1991, at the end of the Cold War.
It seems like, for many, continued ties with Russia could mean more of the past.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons