The first flags were waved on Thursday in many French cities, as Russian tanks continued their advance towards Kiev. This Friday, the fighting continued to rage in Ukraine, invaded by the Russian army led by Vladimir Putin, when the main French metropolises adorned themselves with blue and yellow. Far from the bloody battles that are scarring the eastern border of Europe, the French people are mobilizing to condemn the war in Ukraine and the attitude of its leader Vladimir Putin. From the Eiffel Tower to the fountain in the Place Royale in Nantes via the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, many French cities have expressed unanimous support by adorning themselves with the colors yellow and blue.
The Eiffel Tower in blue and yellow for three days
Anne Hidalgo had made the promise to several demonstrators in Place de la République on Thursday evening. This Friday, the Eiffel Tower will be illuminated in blue and yellow from 6 p.m. in support of the Ukrainian people at the request of the mayor of Paris. She will wear these colors for three days, until midnight Sunday, February 27. The presidential candidate also announced that she had decided to transform her political meeting scheduled for Saturday in Bordeaux “into a meeting of solidarity with the Ukrainian people”.
Flags hoisted at many town halls
As of Thursday, several French municipalities had decided to display the Ukrainian flag on the facade of their town hall. This Friday, others followed them. In Bordeaux, the town hall and the hotel of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region have displayed the colors yellow and blue. Present, the EELV mayor Pierre Hurmic declared himself “ready to welcome Ukrainian nationals as needed”. The Russia Freedoms association was present on the scene to show that “not all Russians support the actions of Vladimir Putin”.
In Marseille, a city twinned with Odessa (south-western Ukraine), Mayor Benoît Payan had paraded the blue and yellow flag alongside the French flag on Thursday. A demonstration in front of the Russian consulate in the second city of France had brought together several dozen people denouncing the “aggression” of the Russian forces.
The same initiative was taken in Clermont-Ferrand. “The savage military aggression of Ukraine brings us back to an age that we no longer want to live in Europe,” said Mayor Olivier Bianchi.
Lille renames its bridge
The city of Lille, twinned with Kharkiv, solemnly renamed the “Kharkov bridge” on Thursday, according to the Russian name, to “Kharkov bridge”, in order to respect the Ukrainian name. “We are extremely concerned and very marked by this situation”, justified the mayor Martine Aubry. The renaming of the bridge had been considered more than a year ago but had obviously been slowed down by the Covid-19.
Toulouse pays tribute to its twin Kiev
Twinned with Kiev for almost fifty years, Toulouse flew Ukrainian flags on the Place du Capitole. Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc expressed “his solidarity with the Ukrainian people”.
A register was opened this Friday at the reception of the Capitol, where residents can express their testimonies of support. “International and humanitarian solidarity actions are also being studied in order to bring aid to the Ukrainian population”, specifies the municipality. The city of Lyon will also illuminate its town hall this Friday.
In Nantes, a fountain in yellow and blue
As of Thursday evening, the fountain in the Place Royale, in Nantes, took on yellow and blue colors. “The military aggression decided by Vladimir Putin is extremely serious,” said Mayor Johanna Rolland.
Rennes lowers the Breton flag
In Rennes, the Breton flag gave way to the Ukrainian flag on the sidelines of the regional council session. Several organizations are calling for a new rally on Saturday to say “no to war” in the Breton capital. In Strasbourg, three buildings will be lit from tonight: the Town Hall, the administrative center, and the Pont Beatus Rhenanus. In Nancy, Place Stanislas will be illuminated as soon as night falls this Friday.