Solidarity with the Russian people
The posts from Ukraine have made one thing clear: this is a war nobody wanted but one that Putin has instigated, the consequences of which are the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands more. Solidarity with Ukraine must mean solidarity with the people.
Therefore, we must stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, with the refugees fleeing the war, but also with the civilians fighting a war they do not understand, with the families who have lost their loved ones, with the activists standing up against tyranny – with all the victims of this war who will unfortunately bear its costs, also those that are in Russia.
Now more than ever must the global community stand up in solidarity, prioritising humanity and the fundamental rights of man. The EU and its Member States must do everything in her power to ensure the utmost protection of humanitarian law in Ukraine and of human rights in Ukraine, Russia, and the EU. Now more than ever must we protect and support the victims of this invasion in Ukraine and the opposition voices in Russia.
Regarding the UN
Whilst we acknowledge the importance of the UN as an organ for international dialogue, we must prioritise its most important purpose, that being the promotion of international peace and security. This is clearly not possible when one of the permanent members of the Security Council itself is committing acts of warfare and the most egregious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as continuing to veto any attempt to implement measures to protect civilians or push for a peaceful resolution of the war in any way. Its expulsion from the UN would finally enable the SC to make decisions regarding Russia, including the enforcement of a no-fly zone, a ceasefire, UN aid and/or implementation of a peace enforcement force.
Although Russia may not be removed from the SC as a permanent member, theoretically it may be expelled from the UN altogether by the UN General Assembly for constant violations of the Charter. Although conventional interpretation would allude to the fact that Russia can't be expelled based on veto immunity, a close reading of articles 4 and 6 of the Charter would indicate it being possible for the GA to vote on this regardless of the SC, and that the SC purely provides a recommendation rather than the necessary authorisation.