Peace groups condemn Russian invasion

Read this round-up of reactions from the IPB, ICAN, Amnesty International, and more

The international peace community has come out strongly against the Russian invasion of Ukraine with protests held across Europe, and even among Russians who oppose their government’s actions. According to German media reports, protesters in Russia were met with a heavy police presence — and close to 2,000 were arrested.

Here is a round-up of some of the reaction. Learn more by following the links to respective statements:

The International Peace Bureau stands in solidarity with those who are actively speaking out against the actions of the Russian government in Ukraine and the victims of the aggression. We welcome the peace protests in Moscow and many other cities of Russia.

Putin threatened this morning to respond to any interference with “consequences that you never have had before in your history”, which really means that he’s threatening to use nuclear weapons. We are in a really dangerous moment right now. [The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons] ICAN strongly condemns the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons.

The Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy strongly condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine… (Russian President) Putin’s thinly veiled references to resort to nuclear weapons should other states intervene militarily are unlawful threats of force under the UN Charter, Article 2(4), because they are an element of the unlawful invasion. They are also contrary to general international law because they threaten the commission of an illegal act—here the use of nuclear weapons.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been marked by indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and strikes on protected objects such as hospitals, Amnesty International said today, after documenting three incidents that it believes to have killed at least six civilians and injured at least 12 more. Indiscriminate attacks violate international humanitarian law (the laws of war) and can constitute war crimes.  

The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) strongly condemns all acts of war and military aggression in Ukraine and denounces any threats to use nuclear weapons.