R9new: On solidarity with Ukraine

Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022,
after years of hybrid aggression starting from 2014. The invasion has been
widely condemned internationally, and the actions inflicted by the Russian
Federation have been nothing short of war crimes.

An urgent and coordinated international response

We call for full commitment to ending the war. The ruling of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) on 16th March 2022 has made it clear that the Russian
Federation is in breach of international law. The ICJ must now have the process
accelerated to have the Russian Federation tried for genocide. We also call for
Putin to be tried for war crimes at the International Criminal Court. We demand
the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops from the territories of Ukraine,
as well as from Georgia and Moldova.

We condemn the political leaders who are delaying the supply of arms to the
Armed Forces of Ukraine by spreading misinformation about their help or denying
Ukraine’s requests even for defensive weaponry, specifically by German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz. We call for the sanctioning of openly pro-Putin
politicians in Europe, in particular Viktor Orban and the Hungarian government,
as well as Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Government who do not agree to
impose sanctions on the Russian Federation by breaking the common European front
and repeating Russian disinformation in the state media.

We also call for equal sanctions for Belarus. Lukashenka and all his allies
involved in cooperating with Putin, participating in war crimes in Ukraine, and
torturing civilians in Belarus must be held accountable. Lukashenka`s support
for Putin's actions must be classified as aiding, abetting and otherwise
facilitating deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against the civilian
population of Ukraine.

After the urgent end to the conflict, the reconstruction of Ukrainian
infrastructure must be financed from Russian reparations. If this is not
achieved, the European Union, the States participating in the EEA and Schengen
should finance, and the costs should be distributed in proportion to the
expenditure on Russian gas, oil and uranium, which financed the Kremlin's
activities. The European Union must also accelerate the process to grant EU
candidate status to Ukraine with accession to closely follow.

Long-term peace and security

As Young Greens we stand for a broad and inclusive approach to establishing
peace, through the protection of human rights, rule of law, and international
justice. When these principles are compromised and lives are at risk, the
international community must come together to end the conflict. To this end, we
call on the EU for the rapid deployment of interoperable EU military forces with
the aim of peace enforcement and civilian protection, and to restore the legal
borders of Ukraine with Crimea and Donbas, granted in the Budapest Memorandum in
1994.

FYEG supports the oil, gas, coal and uranium embargo on Russia to stop financing
Putin’s war. The embargo must come hand in hand with a just transition to
renewables for a democratisation of Europe’s energy with social protections to
prevent the cost being burdened by citizens. At the same time, Europe must not
transfer any materials for weapon production to Russia. We condemn Western
companies that continue operating in Russia thereby supporting the stability of
the Putin's regime by paying taxes to the repressive machine, and helping to
circumvent sanctions imposed by democracies to reduce military aggression
against Ukraine.

As Ukraine is a major exporter of grains and the world’s largest supplier of
sunflower oil, the war has led to supply shortages. This has resulted in
increased prices in Europe and risks amplifying famine in Africa and the Middle
East. It is urgent for the international community to intervene to end the
conflict, to prevent an elongated period of food insecurity brought on by the
war. A way to do so is to indefinitely suspend all trade duties and tariffs
charged to Ukraine to help them get through the conflict and reconstruction.

No one left behind

The EU must also provide and support the distribution of humanitarian aid to
Ukraine. Currently, Russian troops are reported to be blocking the transit of
civilians and aid. Safe passage must be granted to civilians and for the
transportation of medicines and other forms of aid. We also call for the supply
of veterinarian aid and food for animals to be fairly distributed. Action must
be taken to preserve the cultural heritage from destruction through military
action

The war has brought increased sexual violence against women both in Ukraine and
those displaced. And yet, many are denied necessary sexual and reproductive
healthcare services such as abortion either in Ukrainian hospitals or in Poland.
Every European country should provide the necessary healthcare to all Ukrainians
arriving in their country, including sexual and reproductive health services and
psychological support.

Human trafficking has also increased, particularly of women and children. The EU
should work with humanitarian organisations to provide a safe passage to those
crossing borders and to prevent children from being separated from their
families.

More than 11 million people in Ukraine have fled the country and over 7 million
have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). Meanwhile, horrifying stories
have emerged that some Ukrainians are being illegally deported to Russia, who
must immediately be retrieved and taken to a place of safety. While we support
the EU’s decision to welcome refugees from Ukraine, European leaders must not
forget refugees fleeing war and oppression from elsewhere. We demand a humane EU
asylum and migration policy with safe passage to the EU for all refugees and
migrants.

From the aspect of bigger inclusion in society, we would like to suggest to
European local communities and institutions opening free and official language
courses for refugees from Ukraine who will be able to learn the language of the
country where they are in. Language is something that people need every day and
with free language courses, everyday life will become easier for refugees in
European countries.

Conclusion

The Federation of Young European Greens wholeheartedly expresses its solidarity
with the people of Ukraine. We strongly condemn the violence and horrors
inflicted by the Russian Federation. The whole of Europe must stand together
with Ukraine to provide support to civilians and ensure that justice is brought.