Hundreds flood downtown Hamilton with blue and yellow in show of support for Ukraine

It took all the blue and yellow broadcloth from a Hamilton-area store to create the 12-metre-long Ukrainian flag Orysia Foster sewed together with the help of two of her friends.

She stood behind it on Sunday, as hundreds gathered in Hamilton to do the same — standing behind Ukraine, protesting the Russian invasion and calling for peace.

"Ukraine needs help. It needs support," she said.

"If Russia stopped the war this would all end, but if Ukraine stopped fighting, there would be no Ukraine."

Foster, who has family in Ukraine, was part of a flood of blue and yellow that filled the Hamilton city hall forecourt, one of many demonstrations across the country this weekend.

"There are so many people here who are not Ukrainian and it's just heartwarming to see all the support," she said.

Larysa Zariczniak, president of the Ukrainian Youth Association of Hamilton, was encouraged by the size of the crowd, too.

She was one of the speakers who addressed them, describing the pain of seeing what's happening to Kyiv, the capital city, where she previously lived and the fear that comes from having friends who are fighting.

"It breaks my heart what's happening to my city," said Zariczniak. "That country is part of my soul."

Zariczniak recorded a video during the demonstration and said she had already shared it with a commander she knows who's on the front lines in Ukraine.

"Showing them that we in Canada, who are thousands of kilometres away, are supporting them in any way that we can, it honestly makes it so much easier for them to fight."

The office of Ukraine's president announced Sunday that a delegation would be meeting with Russian officials at a location along the Belarusian border.

That news came after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his country's nuclear forces be put on high alert in response to what he called "aggressive statements" by leading NATO powers.

Konstantyn Sheweli, president of the Hamilton branch of the Ukrainian National Federation, urged Canadians to help ensure future generations of Ukrainians will be free.

"This attack on Ukraine is also an attack on democracy and the world as we know it," he said.

"We want more assistance. Less talk and more action."

Canada committed Sunday to send at least $25 million in additional non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, including helmets, body armour, gas masks and night vision gear.

The federal government has also imposed sanctions on Russia and directly on Putin and his inner circle of advisers.

The United Nations said it has confirmed at least 240 civilian casualties, including at least 64 people killed, in the fighting in Ukraine that erupted since Russia's invasion on Thursday — though it believed the "real figures are considerably higher" because many reports of casualties remain to be confirmed.

Mayor says city will welcome refugees

Local members of Parliament and Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger were among those who spoke at the rally Sunday, saying the city will welcome refugees fleeing the invasion.

"Canada stands strong with Ukraine, Hamilton stands strong with Ukraine," Eisenberger said, adding the Ukrainian flag will continue to fly at city hall and the Hamilton sign will be lit blue and yellow as a symbol of support.

David Christopherson also addressed the crowd and gave a passionate speech.

The former Hamilton Centre MP made seven trips to Ukraine as an election observer during his time in office.

He described the Russian invasion as "absolutely heartbreaking" and a "gut punch," describing Putin as a "bully."

Speaking to CBC, Christopherson recalled a scene from his first visit to the country where he watched a father hand a ballot to his son and showed him how to vote.

"Then he looked at his son and said, 'This is how we keep our country,'" said the former elected official. "That image has stayed with me, going on two decades now."

Former MP says individuals can have an impact

He called on Canadians to attend demonstrations, contact their MPs and call local Ukrainian Churches to ask how they can help.

"This is one of those times when yes, there's massive armies and big geopolitics at play," said Christopherson.

"But what will make the ultimate difference is if enough individual citizens around the world stand up and say 'No. This is not acceptable and I stand behind those that are going to stop it.'"