A woman holds a banner with the message "Stop War" is seen during a protest held near Brandenburg gate against Russia's full-scale military intervention in Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Condemning Russia's Invasion, Voices for Peace Say 'War Is Not the Answer'
Russia's military attack on Ukraine sparked anti-war demonstrations across the globe—including in downtown Moscow.
Peace advocates across the globe reacted with horror and outrage Thursday to Russia's military assault on Ukraine, a full-scale invasion that sparked anti-war demonstrations in Spain, Norway, Japan, and elsewhere--including downtown Moscow.
"Diplomacy is the only way out of this madness. We urge our leaders to remember that."
"Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine will inevitably lead to more fear, misery, and death," said British MP Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the Labour Party. "It is a frightening escalation of the ongoing crisis. Russia must withdraw its troops and return to diplomacy. If it does not, dark days are ahead for Ukraine, Russia, and all of Europe."
Stephen Miles and Sara Haghdoosti of the U.S.-based advocacy group Win Without War sent a similar message, declaring in a statement that "there is simply no justification for the premeditated war we are now witnessing."
"We strongly condemn this act of violent aggression by Russia," Miles and Haghdoosti said, calling on the Biden administration to "use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to encourage Russia to cease its offensive."
"Above all, our thoughts... are with the people of Ukraine," they added. "War is inherently violent, deadly, and destructive, and we fear for the potential human costs of this violent escalation. While the news will likely be dominated in the coming days by troop movements and scenes of fighting, real people will be suffering, and we urge the media to not erase their humanity by solely focusing on the political leaders directing the very violence causing that suffering."
Dozens have reportedly been killed as Russia continues its land, air, and sea invasion of Ukraine, bombarding the country with airstrikes and fighting Ukrainian troops on the ground.
Aid groups are warning that the potential consequences of Russia's assault on Ukraine could be catastrophic and global. Ukraine's neighbors, including Poland and Romania, are preparing to accept millions of refugees fleeing for their lives.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said Thursday that "there will be far-reaching humanitarian implications across Europe and the globe, destabilizing the continent, straining resources of Ukraine's neighbors, and impacting food supply for countries like Yemen, Libya, and Lebanon--already facing acute levels of food insecurity."
The only way to avert such a nightmare scenario, observers and advocates argued, is an urgent return to the negotiating table--not an escalation by any parties involved.
"What we know for sure is that U.S. military intervention will only fan the flames of war," argued the U.S.-based anti-war group CodePink. "War is not the answer."
As airstrikes and shelling bombard Ukraine, it's far from clear whether a diplomatic solution is in reach at present. The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate with Ukraine's leadership regarding the country's "neutrality," an apparent reference to the nation's ambition to join NATO.
Bridget Moix, general secretary of the U.S.-based Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), called on Putin to "immediately withdraw all Russian military forces from all areas of Ukraine and to return to the table for diplomatic negotiation to resolve this crisis."
"We urge all parties to remain at the negotiating table and to keep lines of communication and dialogue open and active," said Moix. "Diplomacy is the only way this war will end."
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Peace advocates across the globe reacted with horror and outrage Thursday to Russia's military assault on Ukraine, a full-scale invasion that sparked anti-war demonstrations in Spain, Norway, Japan, and elsewhere--including downtown Moscow.
"Diplomacy is the only way out of this madness. We urge our leaders to remember that."
"Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine will inevitably lead to more fear, misery, and death," said British MP Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the Labour Party. "It is a frightening escalation of the ongoing crisis. Russia must withdraw its troops and return to diplomacy. If it does not, dark days are ahead for Ukraine, Russia, and all of Europe."
Stephen Miles and Sara Haghdoosti of the U.S.-based advocacy group Win Without War sent a similar message, declaring in a statement that "there is simply no justification for the premeditated war we are now witnessing."
"We strongly condemn this act of violent aggression by Russia," Miles and Haghdoosti said, calling on the Biden administration to "use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to encourage Russia to cease its offensive."
"Above all, our thoughts... are with the people of Ukraine," they added. "War is inherently violent, deadly, and destructive, and we fear for the potential human costs of this violent escalation. While the news will likely be dominated in the coming days by troop movements and scenes of fighting, real people will be suffering, and we urge the media to not erase their humanity by solely focusing on the political leaders directing the very violence causing that suffering."
Dozens have reportedly been killed as Russia continues its land, air, and sea invasion of Ukraine, bombarding the country with airstrikes and fighting Ukrainian troops on the ground.
Aid groups are warning that the potential consequences of Russia's assault on Ukraine could be catastrophic and global. Ukraine's neighbors, including Poland and Romania, are preparing to accept millions of refugees fleeing for their lives.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said Thursday that "there will be far-reaching humanitarian implications across Europe and the globe, destabilizing the continent, straining resources of Ukraine's neighbors, and impacting food supply for countries like Yemen, Libya, and Lebanon--already facing acute levels of food insecurity."
The only way to avert such a nightmare scenario, observers and advocates argued, is an urgent return to the negotiating table--not an escalation by any parties involved.
"What we know for sure is that U.S. military intervention will only fan the flames of war," argued the U.S.-based anti-war group CodePink. "War is not the answer."
As airstrikes and shelling bombard Ukraine, it's far from clear whether a diplomatic solution is in reach at present. The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate with Ukraine's leadership regarding the country's "neutrality," an apparent reference to the nation's ambition to join NATO.
Bridget Moix, general secretary of the U.S.-based Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), called on Putin to "immediately withdraw all Russian military forces from all areas of Ukraine and to return to the table for diplomatic negotiation to resolve this crisis."
"We urge all parties to remain at the negotiating table and to keep lines of communication and dialogue open and active," said Moix. "Diplomacy is the only way this war will end."
Peace advocates across the globe reacted with horror and outrage Thursday to Russia's military assault on Ukraine, a full-scale invasion that sparked anti-war demonstrations in Spain, Norway, Japan, and elsewhere--including downtown Moscow.
"Diplomacy is the only way out of this madness. We urge our leaders to remember that."
"Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine will inevitably lead to more fear, misery, and death," said British MP Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the Labour Party. "It is a frightening escalation of the ongoing crisis. Russia must withdraw its troops and return to diplomacy. If it does not, dark days are ahead for Ukraine, Russia, and all of Europe."
Stephen Miles and Sara Haghdoosti of the U.S.-based advocacy group Win Without War sent a similar message, declaring in a statement that "there is simply no justification for the premeditated war we are now witnessing."
"We strongly condemn this act of violent aggression by Russia," Miles and Haghdoosti said, calling on the Biden administration to "use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to encourage Russia to cease its offensive."
"Above all, our thoughts... are with the people of Ukraine," they added. "War is inherently violent, deadly, and destructive, and we fear for the potential human costs of this violent escalation. While the news will likely be dominated in the coming days by troop movements and scenes of fighting, real people will be suffering, and we urge the media to not erase their humanity by solely focusing on the political leaders directing the very violence causing that suffering."
Dozens have reportedly been killed as Russia continues its land, air, and sea invasion of Ukraine, bombarding the country with airstrikes and fighting Ukrainian troops on the ground.
Aid groups are warning that the potential consequences of Russia's assault on Ukraine could be catastrophic and global. Ukraine's neighbors, including Poland and Romania, are preparing to accept millions of refugees fleeing for their lives.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said Thursday that "there will be far-reaching humanitarian implications across Europe and the globe, destabilizing the continent, straining resources of Ukraine's neighbors, and impacting food supply for countries like Yemen, Libya, and Lebanon--already facing acute levels of food insecurity."
The only way to avert such a nightmare scenario, observers and advocates argued, is an urgent return to the negotiating table--not an escalation by any parties involved.
"What we know for sure is that U.S. military intervention will only fan the flames of war," argued the U.S.-based anti-war group CodePink. "War is not the answer."
As airstrikes and shelling bombard Ukraine, it's far from clear whether a diplomatic solution is in reach at present. The Kremlin said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to negotiate with Ukraine's leadership regarding the country's "neutrality," an apparent reference to the nation's ambition to join NATO.
Bridget Moix, general secretary of the U.S.-based Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), called on Putin to "immediately withdraw all Russian military forces from all areas of Ukraine and to return to the table for diplomatic negotiation to resolve this crisis."
"We urge all parties to remain at the negotiating table and to keep lines of communication and dialogue open and active," said Moix. "Diplomacy is the only way this war will end."