One of many organizers, opposition lawmaker Sahra Wagenknecht of the ex-communist Left occasion, mentioned through the rally that there was no place for neo-Nazis, however that anybody who needed peace “with an trustworthy coronary heart” was welcome.

Whereas most placards on the protest mirrored conventional left-wing positions, some individuals bore banners with the slogan “Individuals go house” and the emblem of a far-right journal. Some waved Russian flags.

Wagenknecht accused the German authorities of looking for to “smash Russia,” and mentioned that Moscow needs to be made an “provide” to be able to resume peace talks.

One other of the organizers, distinguished feminist writer Alice Schwarzer, mentioned it was time to look past left and proper. Protesters jeered each time she and Wagenknecht talked about the title of German International Minister Annalena Baerbock, who has strongly backed the supply of arms to Ukraine.

Police mentioned that about 13,000 folks took half within the rally at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate, whereas organizers claimed that fifty,000 folks participated.

One in every of them was Konstantin Schneider, an instructional from Berlin, who mentioned he understood that international locations in Japanese Europe have been afraid of Russia.

“In fact (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is an fool to assault Ukraine,” he mentioned. “However we nonetheless want to search out new options (to the conflict) as a substitute of sweepingly saying there’s nothing to barter.”

There have been a number of small counterdemonstrations. On Friday, about 10,000 folks staged a protest on the identical website in help of Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned in a latest tv interview that he doesn’t see a prospect for peace talks at current.

“We have to perceive that the Russian president at the moment accepts just one type of negotiations, which is that (Ukraine) capitulates unconditionally and he achieves all of his goals,” Scholz advised public broadcaster ZDF.