UNAC Statement on Ukraine and
Russia
4/21/21
The United States,
NATO and the Ukrainian government are escalating their provocation of Russia, risking
war with a nuclear power. It is urgent that the anti-war movement oppose
this.
In recent days, Russia has recalled its ambassador to the US after
Biden broke with diplomatic protocol and called Putin a
“killer.” This from the leader of the US that has forces in 172
countries around the world and has killed millions in recent years through its
military adventures.
In 2020, the US provocatively moved Navy
ships into the Black Sea 7 times. The
Black Sea is an inland sea with shores on both Ukraine and Russia. Britain, the US’s junior imperial partner has
now announced that it will send Navy ships into the Black Sea in May.
Result of Ukraine shelling of
Donetsk Ukraine’s Azov
Regiment show their Nazi symparthy
The US has pulled out of the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia (which required parties to
eliminate nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise
missiles) and is using this dangerous situation to further its anti-Russian
campaign. It has been sending weapons to
Ukraine, and hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the Ukrainian
military. In March, a group of senators
from both parties called for an increase of $300 million to the Ukrainian
military and other top military officials have called for providing Ukraine
with jet fighters, smart munitions, and cruise missiles.
Fighting has been escalating in the
Donbass region of Ukraine as the Kiev government has moved forces into the area
and started shelling. Donbass is an area
the includes the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, which are autonomous
governments that rejected the 2014 US engineered coup that overthrew the
elected government of Ukraine and installed a pro-western government that
includes extreme right-wing, neo-Nazi parties and organizations.
Recently, Ukraine and NATO announced
joint military exercises and the Ukrainian president Zelensky has called upon
NATO to admit Ukraine into the alliance.
NATO forces and bases have been surrounding Russia in past years and
NATO has conducted military exercises on Russian borders.
Ukraine has a longer border with Russia
than any other European country and is seen by the US and NATO as an import
factor in their military encirclement of the country. Last month the Ukrainian government
proclaimed a military strategy aimed at Russia and to reclaim the autonomous
regions in Donbass and to “recover Crimea.”
Crimea has historically been part of Russia. It became part of Ukraine in 1954 when both
Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union. The people of Crimea also rejected the US
supported right-wing coup in 2014 and voted overwhelmingly to return to Russia.
In response to the aggressive moves on
the part of the Ukrainian government along with the US and NATO, Russia has
been amassing forces along its border with Ukraine. Russian troops are on Russian soil, yet US
and NATO claim this is Russian “aggression”.
These dangerous provocations must be
opposed by the antiwar movement.
UNAC demand:
Hands off Donbass!
Hands off Crimea!
Hands off Russia!
No military aid to Ukraine!
Keep Ukraine out of NATO!
Below are 2 reports from UNAC members who
went to Ukraine in 2019 to express solidarity with a memorial of people killed
by right-wing forces in Odessa for opposing the coup.