Thousands join Berlin rally calling for Ukraine peace talks

While most placards at the protest reflected traditional left-wing positions, some participants bore banners with the slogan “Americans go home” and the logo of a far-right magazine.

A man waves Russian flags as he attends a demonstration supporting a so-called ‘Manifesto for Peace’ in Berlin (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Thousands of people have protested in Berlin to condemn Germany’s supply of arms to Ukraine and call for peace talks to end the war.

The organisers were criticised before the protest for downplaying Ukraine’s right to defend its territory from Russian aggression and failing to distance themselves from political extremists on the far right and far left, where pro-Russia views are common.