People with a blue and yellow flag hanging from their shoulders, dressed in blue jackets and yellow scarves or sweaters of that color are demonstrating side by side.

Together for Ukraine.

An image that symbolizes unity.

Unity against the war raging just two hours flight away.

This signal emanates from Frankfurt's Römerberg.

Under the motto "We all stand with Ukraine", the Europa Union Frankfurt and the Frankfurt parties Green, FDP, Volt, SPD, CDU and Die Linke jointly called for a rally in front of the town hall on Friday evening.

What's special: The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, will also join in live via Zoom.

The large screen that was set up in front of the Romans for this purpose is a real eye-catcher.

Yana and her husband Dennis are among the first to arrive - many hundreds will do the same.

An hour before the start of the rally, they are standing in the middle of the square, wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

Dennis is German, Yana has Ukrainian roots.

Her whole family is in Ukraine.

Why is she here today?

"I want to do something.

There is a lot of talk, but something needs to be done.

The people of Ukraine are being destroyed – and the world is watching.”

Demand: Exclude all Russian banks from Swift

Her husband adds: "I'm always asked what can be done.

Donations are good, whether in cash or in kind.

But taking to the streets, that really makes the difference.” You are dissatisfied with German politics.

"It's time to exclude all banks from Swift," says Dennis, meaning all Russian banks.

“Also and above all the two big ones.

And Ukrainian airspace must be closed.”

Others on the pitch also raise these demands.

Many a participant carries a self-designed poster with such slogans.

Karl-Heinz Kleifges noted another demand on his poster: "0% trade with Putin".

A war of aggression in the middle of Europe, these are intolerable conditions.

“People lose everything they have built up over the years and decades.” Germany is also helping to finance this war through trade with Russia.

"We will have restrictions if we stop trading - but what is the alternative?

Doing nothing and watching?” asks Kleifges.

The place is packed when the screen finally lights up showing images from Bratislava, Lyon, Prague, Paris, Tbilisi and Vilnius.

Thousands of people gather there at the same time to hear the President of Ukraine.

Everywhere you can see Ukrainian flags.

There is a live stream on the Europa Union social media channels, so many other cities are watching.

According to police estimates, around 2,000 people are demonstrating in Frankfurt.

But the connection to the other cities makes it feel like there are many more.

At 6:30 p.m. sharp, Selenskyj appears on the screen, and the people on the Römerberg suddenly fall silent.

He raises his clenched fist.

Then he starts to speak.

Despite the poor audio connection, people understand what he is trying to say.

And cheer.

And when the organizers show the recorded speech again afterwards, the exact wording becomes clear.

He commemorates the fallen soldiers and civilians in Ukraine with minutes of silence.

He calls on the people of Europe to stand up, take to the streets and support Ukraine.

"So please: don't be quiet!

Don't close your eyes to it.

Support us as much as you can.

And if we win - and I'm sure we will - it will be a victory for the whole democratic world.” He raises his fist in the air again.

The people cheer.

Show your face, show solidarity

Susanne is one of them: "I take to the streets every week," she says.

With her friend Petra, she was first at a rally in front of the Russian embassy, ​​as she says, after which both spontaneously came to the Romans.

"We're here because it's important to show your face.

To show solidarity,” says Susanne.

"For us, this is a way out of the swoon."

Petra comes from Slovakia, as a child she had bad experiences with Russian soldiers.

"It's all coming up again now." It's a very emotional thing for her.

Susanne is also close to tears.

"I feel so sorry for the people.

For me, showing solidarity is the duty of every human being.” There is also the fear of a nuclear attack.

That too can be heard more often this evening.

Today Ukraine, tomorrow it could be Poland – in the meantime, Putin is believed to be capable of anything.

The rally ends with an appeal by the moderators from the Young European Federalists.

“We have the privilege of being able to go home now, to be able to switch off.

The people fighting for their freedom in Ukraine cannot do that.

We mustn't forget them," they call out to the crowd.

"In the next few days, people will be arriving in Frankfurt who need our help and support.

Therefore: if you can help in any way, then do it. Get information from the city.

Let's live practical solidarity," is her appeal.