Peace in Ukraine

We are mobilizing to end the war in Ukraine.

We condemn the illegal and aggressive invasion by Russia of Ukraine.

The invasion was a dramatic escalation of the violence that started in 2014. The invasion and occupation have created an increasingly dangerous situation for residents of the war zones and the rest of the world. Immediate humanitarian aid is needed for the victims, and any further escalation must be prevented to avoid stumbling into a wider war or nuclear confrontation.

Diplomacy may look difficult today, but there is no military solution to this crisis.

​Our movement is calling for all countries to engage in an urgent surge of diplomacy to end this war and achieve a secure and lasting peace

Specifically we call for: 

• An urgent diplomatic initiative between Russia and Ukraine, with whatever UN or other mediation is necessary, supported by all other nations, is urgent as the longer the war goes on the greater the chance of escalation. 
• ​Engagement by the US and NATO with Russia to address wider security issues related to the war and improving European security including preventing a nuclear exchange and addressing nuclear disarmament and conflict prevention issues. 

We further call for the following should diplomacy work and bring about negotiations to end the war acceptable to all parties.

​A freeze on all military activities including a halt to actions on the ground by belligerents and a freeze on arms transfers to Ukraine. We believe that war funding by all countries would be better spent on addressing the climate emergency, housing food insecurity, economic inequality and promoting the general welfare of all peoples. Global cooperation to rebuild Ukraine and protect victims and refugees from Ukraine and other war-torn nations. This includes debt relief and forgiveness, and a redoubled global humanitarian effort for Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere, and refugee resettlement and assistance for Ukraine and other war-torn countries. 

Here in the U.S., we can reflect deeply on what the US could have done to prevent this war. Nothing can reduce Russian culpability for the invasion, but brinkmanship, adventurism and military confrontation is dangerous in a volatile world.

We must atone for the fact that the U.S. has done more than any other country to undermine norms against invading sovereign countries. Again, and again U.S. and European leaders warned that if Russia wasn’t integrated into a pan-European security arrangement, if NATO kept expanding, that war was inevitable. The Minsk peace initiative was never really implemented. Why? From 2014 through the day before the invasion a spiral of escalation grew with no off ramps. Why?

If we want a more peaceful world, we need answers and a radically new approach. 

​TAKE ACTION 

There may not seem to be much we can do about this war, but there is. Our National Organization, Peace Action has a well thought out position and a set of action steps (at the bottom of their policy briefing and below) that you can take to make a difference, save lives and encourage our elected officials to create the conditions for a diplomatic end to the war.

THINGS THE PUBLIC AND THE U.S. CAN DO TO SUPPORT UKRAINIANS AND END THE WAR

• Support continued funding for Ukraine and Ukrainians including humanitarian aid and refugee assistance and resettlement. Support debt cancellation for Ukraine to strengthen the country. 
• Support direct U.S. diplomacy to end the war including being willing to ratchet down U.S. sanctions on Russia in exchange for Russia ending the war and all troops leaving Ukraine.
• Oppose escalatory steps that could spread the danger like no-fly zones, U.S. troops getting involved, or escalator changes to nuclear posture and policy. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to speak out for strong diplomatic solutions and against any further escalation of war-fighting.
• Block military contractors and the Pentagon from using the crisis to grow the bloated military budget.
• Oppose open-ended sanctions that cause widespread humanitarian damage to Russian civilians. 
• Magnify the voices of Ukrainians and Russians who are engaging in non-violent civilian resistance against this war. 
• Lift refugee caps to make more generous room for refugees from Ukraine. This must be done in an equitable way that includes equally deserving refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, etc. 
• Encourage representatives to cosponsor H. Res. 877 – the Foreign Policy for 21st Century Act.

Stay in touch with us for current ACTION ALERTS!

Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Overall DEMAND the Administration does everything it can to ramp up diplomacy including track II talks and renewing Nuclear Arms talks with Russia including negotiations to advance the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

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