As an Associate Member of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF), we are in full support of the statement released entitled, “APGF CONDEMNS RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES FROM UKRAINE AND END OF WAR” dated 6 March, 2022.
APGF CONDEMNS RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE, DEMANDS IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES FROM UKRAINE AND END OF WAR
The Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) condemns, in the strongest terms, the Russian Federation’s invasion of sovereign Ukraine, and President Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert. The Federation of the Green parties in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region demands an immediate halt to the war and the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.
The APGF reiterates its solidarity with Ukraine and its people in countering the arbitrariness and irresponsible act of creating military and political threats of a pan-European, pan-world nature. It recognises that the war against Ukraine is detrimental to global peace, security, and human rights. Critically, Russia’s invasion contradicts the fundamental principles of international law, and devalues the painful lessons learned by humankind from the experience of the two World Wars.
The APGF once again calls upon all global, continental, regional, and local institutions, including in our own region, to coordinate closely and take nonviolent, strategic, and sustained collaborative diplomatic dialogues and détente that act as deterrence and weaken Russia’s ability to finance war against Ukraine.
The APGF is not in favour of general sanctions that ultimately will impact the common people. The sanctions, therefore, must target the oligarchs, military complexes, and those starting or continuing the war. More so, we understand that many of the people in Russia are not in favour of war and are sympathetic to the plight of the Ukrainian people. In view of this, we support the Russian citizens opposing war and those who have been jailed for their opposition. We call for their immediate release and the right for peaceful protest inside of the Russian Federation.
The APGF supports humanitarian and medical assistance to Ukraine, and calls on the European governments to immediately prepare a response apparatus to receive Ukrainian refugees in their countries, including to opening of the Schengen borders for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum.
Authorised by Ayah Abdouny and Tika Bhandari, co-Convenors, Asia-Pacific Greens Federation
