01:58Brussels' Ukrainian community gathered outside the European Parliament on Friday, one day ahead of their country's 33rd Independence Day.
Footage shows attendees unfolding a 30-metres long Ukrainian flag and singing the country's national anthem. The flag was also seen being raised outside the parliament's building.
According to the local organisation 'Brussels Helps Ukraine', events will take place over four days across the city. Meanwhile, European Parliament buildings in Luxembourg and Strasbourg also raised the Ukrainian flag for Independence Day.
Despite the show of support, it comes just one month after the biggest European supplier of military aid to Ukraine - Germany - announced plans to cut assistance by half, in an effort to keep its budget under control.
Berlin says the shortfall can be made up from other 'European sources' as well as income from frozen Russian assets - which Moscow has condemned as 'illegal'.
Ukraine became independent in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
We're not flagging! EU displays Ukrainian flags ahead of 33rd Independence Day… as bloc's biggest donor slashes support
Brussels' Ukrainian community gathered outside the European Parliament on Friday, one day ahead of their country's 33rd Independence Day.
Footage shows attendees unfolding a 30-metres long Ukrainian flag and singing the country's national anthem. The flag was also seen being raised outside the parliament's building.
According to the local organisation 'Brussels Helps Ukraine', events will take place over four days across the city. Meanwhile, European Parliament buildings in Luxembourg and Strasbourg also raised the Ukrainian flag for Independence Day.
Despite the show of support, it comes just one month after the biggest European supplier of military aid to Ukraine - Germany - announced plans to cut assistance by half, in an effort to keep its budget under control.
Berlin says the shortfall can be made up from other 'European sources' as well as income from frozen Russian assets - which Moscow has condemned as 'illegal'.
Ukraine became independent in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Brussels' Ukrainian community gathered outside the European Parliament on Friday, one day ahead of their country's 33rd Independence Day.
Footage shows attendees unfolding a 30-metres long Ukrainian flag and singing the country's national anthem. The flag was also seen being raised outside the parliament's building.
According to the local organisation 'Brussels Helps Ukraine', events will take place over four days across the city. Meanwhile, European Parliament buildings in Luxembourg and Strasbourg also raised the Ukrainian flag for Independence Day.
Despite the show of support, it comes just one month after the biggest European supplier of military aid to Ukraine - Germany - announced plans to cut assistance by half, in an effort to keep its budget under control.
Berlin says the shortfall can be made up from other 'European sources' as well as income from frozen Russian assets - which Moscow has condemned as 'illegal'.
Ukraine became independent in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.