The current stand-off between Ukraine and Russia has been years in the making and dangerous brinkmanship threatens to escalate this crisis into a war. Jan Egeland, (Norwegian Refugee Council), on a recent visit to Ukraine, brought this message from the people of eastern Ukraine: “Enough of this political military chess game that everybody is obsessed with. We are suffering now. We’ve suffered for eight years with conflict”.
Moscow, Kiev, and members of NATO, including the US and the UK (all nuclear powers) have militarised this conflict, profiting from arms sales and military training. The expansion of NATO in Eastern Europe and the reluctance of NATO leaders to recognise legitimate Russian security concerns because of this, fuel the possibility of war, taking us further away from the diplomatic and negotiated approaches that are required to get to the root of the conflict.
- Russia has sent thousands of troops to its borders with Ukraine.
- The US already has thousands of its Special Forces training soldiers in Ukraine.
- The UK has supplied anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, along with soldiers to train Ukraine Army personnel in their use.
Statements from peace-movements / NGOs on the crisis
Peace Pledge Union https://www.ppu.org.uk/news/peace-pledge-union-statement-ukraine-and-russia
Norwegian Refugee Council: https://www.nrc.no/news/2022/february/joint-ingo-statement-on-recent-events-in-ukraine/
International Peace Bureau: https://www.ipb.org/yesterdays-news/common-security-approaches-to-resolve-the-ukraine-and-european-crises/
Prof. Paul Rogers: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/russia-ukraine-crisis-whats-next-paul-rogers/
Women in Black invite you to support our call
[This leaflet was written and printed just before the threat of war changed to war……….
The Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA
We call on you urgently to:
- Invest every effort to encourage dialogue and diplomacy to see a common security approach
to end the conflict. - Stop all arms sales and military training to Ukraine.
- Challenge NATOs aggressive rhetoric and actions which can only inflame the situation.
- Implement the commitments to the UN Women, Peace & Security Agenda (UNSCR 1325) that require a meaningful role for women’s participation in the negotiations and women’s leadership for conflict prevention. Ensure that women from all sides of the conflict are invited to mediate a diplomatic resolution to the conflict and an agreement for lasting peace.
Signature:………………………………………………….Name:………………………………………………………………………
Address:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London WC2. Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black. We welcome all women who support our call for an end to militarism and war.
Contact us: Twitter @WIB_London FB @womeninblack.london http://london.womeninblack.org/
Donations for leaflets most welcome