Today marks one year since the full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces. Since this day, Putin has continued to violate international laws and agreements as well as the human rights of the people of Ukraine.
Evidence of widespread war crimes and crimes against humanity committed throughout the war in Ukraine has mounted over the last year. Russia’s forces have conducted indiscriminate attacks against residential areas and civilian infrastructure, with thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children, having been murdered, tortured, harassed, raped, kidnapped or forcibly displaced.
One year of human suffering at the doorstep of the European Union should mobilise our solidarity and energy. We have a moral duty: to support the people of Ukraine and their right to defend their territorial integrity, including through continuous provision of military support, and to support refugees fleeing warzones in search for safety.
Ukraine is a sovereign state that has the right to defend itself against external threats. If Russia decides to end the war, it's the end of the war. If Ukraine decides to end the war, it's the end of Ukraine. That’s why our support for Ukraine will be unwavering as long as it takes for Russia to stop the war and pull its troops out of Ukraine, and we will support the country’s reconstruction.
Putin had counted on a weak resistance from Ukraine, and on a strategy aiming at dividing Europe. It has failed and will continue to fail. Europe’s support to Ukraine is about solidarity in unity. Europe is and will remain united in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine fighting for a free democratic society and our shared European values. As Greens, we will always stand for democracy, freedom and sovereignty.
Mélanie Vogel, co-chair of the European Green Party and French Senator
Thomas Waitz, co-chair of the European Green Party and Member of the European Parliament
