APPEAL to national organizations of Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) from NATO-Ukraine Civic League and Atlantic Council of Ukraine
APPEAL
to national organizations of Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA)
from NATO-Ukraine Civic League and Atlantic Council of Ukraine
(Associated member of the ATA since 1995)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We take this opportunity to express our respect to the ATA Council Meeting`s participants and their esteemed organizations!
We use this opportunity to draw your attention to the most dangerous challenges facing the very existence, independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine but also to the Principles and Values on which the current security system works.
The Ukrainian people have been on the verge of physical and mental exhaustion from the immense pressure of war-related hardships since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2014. Especially great burden fell on the shoulders of women, children and pensioners who remained on the territory occupied by Russian-terrorist forces.
As it is stated in the report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of refugees from the Donbas and Crimea exceeds 1.9 mln people. 1.2 mln. of them moved to other regions of the country. Over 700 thousand people went abroad. More than 6.400 thousand civilians (among them 68 children) were killed in the war that Putin triggered off.
After signing of the so-called the Minsk II truce agreement, Russian-backed militants have continued to shell the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian targets, leaving 83 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 400 – wounded.
16 Ukrainian doctors were killed and more than 60 medics were wounded in this war.
Every day the Ukrainian society is seeing tears of family members who lost their beloved ones. So, Ukrainians hope that the deployment of international missions will help to stop the war. Placing its hopes on the ATA activities, the Euro-Atlantic community is expecting a consistent and professional assessment of the situation in eastern Donbass. However, the principled stand of such international NGOs as the Atlantic Treaty Association will facilitate the adoption of adequate and objective decisions by the UN, NATO, EU and individual states, and such decisions, translated into action, can precipitate the end of war and put an end to the suffering of Ukrainian citizens.
The capture of the town of Debaltseve on February 18, 2015 was the very first violation of the Minsk Agreement. On the 3rd of June the militants launched their offensive on the town of Marinka. Obviously, that the Minsk II has failed. It was clear even after Debaltseve.
There is the conflict, but there is no solution to it...
Any demonstration of inconsistency or indecisiveness on the part of the West will bring about the transformation of Russia into the greatest geopolitical problem of the XXI century. To prevent that, it is necessary that sanctions against Russia are kept until a complete restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is equivalent to the full restoration of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The aggression against Ukraine – is a determining factor for the future of the European security. The defeat of Ukraine will surely step up instability in Eastern Europe, increase the Kremlin’s appetite, and decrease the possibility of changes in Russia itself.
Russia’s hybrid war was difficult to respond quickly because it employed a whole set of subversive tactics. During its initial stage it was too early to define the threats and counter them because they were not clearly demonstrated. People were brainwashed by Russian propaganda and spread separatist sentiments. Our top commanding officers were caught off-guard by swift actions of the Russian regular and irregular forces. The ultimate goal of Putin’s adventure in Ukraine was not clear at that time. Moreover, there was hope for a dialogue and political solution. There also was hope for a resolute support from our allies. After the precious time had been wasted, it was too late to put up a fierce resistance.
Today it is too early to respond, but tomorrow is too late – that is the essence of a hybrid war...
It is not just the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine that we are witnessing these days. It is a war between two civilizations. The Kremlin is afraid of successful, strong and democratic Ukraine, because the Russian totalitarian government perceives democracy as a threat, which has already reached the borders of Russia. The fact that Russia is fighting against Ukraine – is a threat to European civilization.
In our opinion, the Ukrainian-Russian conflict – is largely a conflict between the cultural successors to Kievan Rus and Golden Horde.
We appeal to you to promote further political and public support our country and our people in the struggle for independence from the Russian-terrorist occupants and restoration of the Ukrainian state borders.
For this end it is important to act in accordance with the following 3 directions.
1. Continue to keep economic sanctions on Russia. Economic sanctions are a peaceful way of solving the problem. When sanctions are kept – Ukrainian soldiers and civilians stay alive. The stronger the sanctions – the shorter the period they are imposed. After the war it will be possible and necessary to restore relationships with new Russian authorities. However, for a new Russia to come, there must be a real pressure on the economy of Putin's Russia. The Russians will abandon their hostile behaviour only under mounting pressure from the West.
2. It is important to support Ukraine economically. It is difficult for a war-torn country to rebuild, let alone to boost its economy. War consumes a lot of efforts and attention. Reforms are carried out, but it takes time for the effect to come. Putin hopes that Ukraine will fall sooner than Russia, with the war raging on its territory. It is necessary to support Ukraine.
3. It is important to supply both non-lethal and lethal weapons to Ukraine. The Ukrainian soldiers cannot defend the European values and European civilization with their bare hands. Well-armed Ukrainian units – are the deterrence factor on the tactical and strategic levels. The Russian generals will think twice before launching an attack on well-armed Ukrainian soldiers. Russia is still pouring its advanced weapons and military equipment into Eastern Ukraine, which it exploits as a testing ground. Russian artillery cadets pass practical tests, shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops from the Russian territory.
It is important to defend Ukraine, which is a European state due to its historical and cultural background, and the system of values.
Civil society of Ukraine, which is now represented by soldiers and volunteer at the forefront struggling to protect our independence and European choice, expects support from the Euro-Atlantic civil society. Each your action in support of Ukraine is highly significant for us and it also serves as evidence proving that we are not alone in this fight.
Let’s join our efforts to defend our homeland today, so you save yourselves the trouble of defending your homeland tomorrow.
12 June 2015
NATO-Ukraine Civic League
Open Letter from NATO-Ukraine Civic League to the U.S. Congress
Open Letter
from NATO-Ukraine Civic League
to the U.S. Congress
Dear Speaker Boehner, Senator Reid, Senator McConnell and Representative Pelosi,
Ukraine is at the forefront of the struggle not only for its own independence but for independence and freedom of Europe and the whole Euro-Atlantic community. It is determined by history. The United States of America, as any other country in the world, knows and understands that because the United States proved to be the most resolute champion of freedom, democracy and human rights in the most decisive moments in world history.
The United States Congress, as the highest representative of the will and aspirations of Americans, has always been steadfast champion of freedom, security and justice in the whole world. Now the history is urging the U.S. Congress again to act decisively and uncompromisingly in circumstances when the darkest forces of history and, above all, tyrannical Putin regime in Russia challenged the whole Euro-Atlantic family. Ukraine rose to the challenge.
The Honourable members of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States Congress! NATO-Ukraine Civic League expresses its sincere gratitude to you for the full and unconditional support of the Ukrainian people in their staunch desire to be free, democratic state, a full-fledged member of the European and Euro-Atlantic communities.
Being aware of modern development and guided by its programmatic principles and beliefs, respecting the principles of independence, sovereignty and stability of Ukraine, NATO-Ukraine Civic League urges you, the Honourable representatives of the American people in Congress, to take a decision on the fastest final adoption of the following bills: Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 and Security Guarantees for Ukraine Act to give Ukraine a status of the United States strategic ally, thereby stopping the aggressor and powerfully defending Ukraine, Europe and the United States.
We also call on Congress to make every possible effort for the fastest decision on inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance as a full-fledged member at the Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the UK in September 2014.
Sincerely yours,
NATO-Ukraine Civic League
August 2014
Kyiv, Ukraine
As we meet today, Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence continue to be violated by Russia. Despite Russia’s denials, Russian armed forces are engaged in direct military operations in Ukraine; Russia continues to supply weapons to militants in eastern Ukraine; and it maintains thousands of combat-ready troops on its border with Ukraine. These developments undermine the security of Ukraine and have serious implications for the stability and security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area.