Hundreds gather in downtown Toronto to show support for Ukraine after clash in White House

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Toronto on Monday to demand peace for Ukraine on its own terms.

Demonstrators gathered near Yonge and Dundas streets, then headed to the U.S. consulate to call on the U.S. to continue its support of Ukraine more than three years after Russia invaded the country.

The rally and march come days after a clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Trump and Vice-President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy as the leaders met to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, access to the country's critical minerals and a potential ceasefire with Russia. Zelenskyy was told he was not sufficiently thankful for U.S. support for Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion.

On Monday, a White House official said the U.S. was "pausing and reviewing" its aid to Ukraine to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution," according to reporting from Reuters. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.

Tanya Holovach, member of the Ukrainian Resistance Canada, an organization that helps Ukraine from Canada, said the event was designed to show unwavering support for Ukraine and its president.

"We don't want Ukraine to be forced into a deal where it's not really peace. It will be a surrender," Holovach said before the march.

"What we want is a fair and lasting peace with a security guarantee because as we know Russia will wait, and in a year or five years or whatever, they have already broken like 25 ceasefires since 2014. We can never trust what Russia says. We just want some guarantees from our allies."

Holovach said the organization was "shocked" at how Zelenskyy was treated in the Oval Office. He should have been treated with respect, Holovach said.

"We don't want the U.S. to side with Russia and with Putin because they really don't have anything good in mind."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who attended the event, told the crowd near Yonge and Dundas that Toronto stands with Ukraine and will always stand with Ukraine. She said Deputy Mayor Mike Colle and Coun. Dianne Saxe were also at the rally.

Chow said a Ukrainian flag is flying in Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto city hall.

"We will continue to fly the flag until Ukraine is free," Chow told the crowd.

Chow said she met Zelenskyy when he came to Toronto in September 2023. They met at the Fort York Armoury during his first trip to Canada after the invasion began.

"It was a real proud moment for Torontonians to meet with him," she said. "Here's a man that is courageous, that is out there fighting for freedom, democracy, truth and justice."

Chow decried the way he was treated by Trump and Vance.

"He did not deserve the disrespect that he got from the White House. It was just outrageous."

On Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a weekend security summit on peace in Ukraine that Canada remains "steadfast" in its support for the country and its people.

"Ukraine's fight for sovereignty is a fight for freedom and democracy everywhere. The important discussions we had today reinforced our shared resolve: as Allies, we will remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine. Canada will be there for Ukraine until there is a just and lasting peace," Trudeau said.

More than 40,000 Ukrainian civilians have been injured or killed since the start of the invasion, according to the U.N. human rights office.