Participating nations, delegates and visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai are openly expressing their solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

On Thursday 24 February, the same day that Russia began its attack on Ukraine, senior delegates from Poland, Estonia, the US, and other nations gathered outside Ukraine's expo pavilion in a symbolic stance.

Adrian Malinowski, Poland's commissioner general for Expo 2020 wrote in his LinkedIn post:

"On February 24 at dawn, Russian armed forces have attacked Ukraine and have started a war in full denial of international law. In Poland we know very well, what war is. #StandWithUkraine.

On the same day Poland Pavilion staff and fellow Commissioners and staff members from USA, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania decided to show up at Ukraine Pavilion to express their support to Ukraine."

Meanwhile, visitors to the Ukranian pavilion have been contributing to a 'Solidarity Wall', writing messages of support on post-its.

🇬🇧Consul General to Dubai @SimonPenneyHMTC visited our friends at the Ukraine Pavilion at #Expo2020Dubai this evening to let them know that the UK will #StandWithUkraine.
He also posted a message of support on the ‘solidarity’ wall alongside thousands of others. 🇬🇧🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/qTfhzjdnnZ

— UKinUAE 🇬🇧🇦🇪 (@ukinuae) March 1, 2022

Both public visitors and officials from other pavilions have contributed to the wall, including UK's Consul General to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Simon Penney; UK commissioner general Laura Faulkner; and Sweden's commissioner general Jan Thesleff.

In an emailed statement, Expo 2020's press team responded saying: "Expo 2020 Dubai is a global event focused on bringing people together to celebrate and address issues relevant to our common future. Expo is hosting 192 countries having invited all countries of the world without exception and remains an apolitical event open to all nations".

More from MEED's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis:

• Ukraine conflict sparks self-sufficiency calls
• Rouble collapse is a headwind for Dubai tourism
• Morning briefing: 5 key developments in Ukraine crisis