We Condemn Russia's Military Invasion of Ukraine!

February 24, 2022

The Ukraine crisis has entered a new phase with the Russian military invasion of the country. Earlier, Russia recognized the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and announced that it would send troops to eastern Ukraine as "peacekeepers." But on Thursday morning, Putin ordered a military strike on Ukraine. Following the order of the military attack, the Russian army entered Ukraine from three fronts and bombed the Ukrainian military infrastructure.

In violation of the international law, the Russian government has openly ignored Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity and has ruled out diplomatic talks based on the Minsk 1 and 2 agreements. The Minsk agreement, as an important way out of the current crisis and Russia being one of its main signatories, accepts the Luhansk and Donetsk autonomy under a federal system in Ukraine. But not only the governments of Ukraine, but also the West and the United States have not taken steps to accept Minsk-2 and implement it over the past eight years.

Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has provoked a strong international outcry and has raised public concern about the war in Ukraine. The UN Secretary General has supported Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its borders recognized by the international community and condemned Russia's action. In response to the Russia's move, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia. Russia's military invasion of Ukraine will have a devastating effect on the world economy and politics and will seriously jeopardize peace and security in Europe and the world.

World peace is in danger. To end the war and ensure peace, they must return to the negotiating table with the mediation of international institutions and peacekeeping forces and open a way out of the continuation of hostile rivalries between the two sides. We see NATO expansion and efforts to deploy US and allied troops on Russia's borders as provocative and a threat to the peace and security of all in Europe. Peace and security on a continent accumulated with weapons of mass destruction cannot be achieved with the expansion of NATO and will always be in danger of conflict and war. The European security is tied to the Russian security.

The Ukraine crisis is rooted in the military rivalry between the United States and NATO with Russia. A crisis that could affect not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe. Diplomatic efforts in recent weeks had raised hopes of resolving issues between Russia and NATO members, most notably the United States, over Ukraine. But with Russian action, diplomatic efforts failed. On the other hand, the US government and its European allies continue to insist on expanding their influence and deployment of NATO forces on the Russia's borders and recruiting from neighboring countries, including Ukraine. Russia sees this as a direct threat to its security and calls for a halt to NATO expansion in Eastern Europe and the deployment of NATO troops on its borders.

The Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian) believes that the way out of the dangerous and tense situation that has been created is Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine, immediate reduction of tensions and threats, giving more opportunities for diplomacy within the framework of international law, respecting Sovereignty of countries, and efforts to find peaceful ways to resolve disputes and avoid tensions. We condemn Russia's military action as a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. NATO expansion and the militarization of Eastern Europe have increased the risk of war and conflict in Europe and must be stopped.

We also consider the continuation of the talks under the Minsk 1 and 2 agreements and the mutual commitment of the signatories of these agreements to their implementation, as a possible solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

(Political-Executive Board of the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian

February 24, 2022