Why we oppose and strongly condemn the Russian military aggression on Ukraine
Op ed by Heads of Mission of European Union member states in Tehran
Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022, constitutes a brutal violation of international law, including the UN Charter. It grossly violates the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Russia is committing massive violations of human rights law by bombing schools, hospitals and residential areas. The number of casualties, including women and children, is counted in thousands and rising.
The Russian war leads to dramatic humanitarian consequences. Almost 6 million people had to abandon their homes. 3.8 million Ukrainians have fled the war and EU member states and states neighbouring Ukraine, including the Republic of Moldova, have received them with open arms in their countries and homes. Poland alone has received more than 2.1 million Ukrainians, Romania almost 700.000, Hungary 365.000 and Slovakia 281.000 of them. Many third country nationals, including from the Middle East and Islamic Republic of Iran, were evacuated from Ukraine with the immediate help of the neighbouring EU states. Europe is committed to support the Ukrainian people.
Russia is also conducting a war of disinformation. We must be crystal clear: there is no “genocide” in the Donbass, Ukraine does not possess neither nuclear nor chemical or biological weapons, the casualties in that eastern region of Ukraine are the consequence of the conflict launched in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists. Contrary to what has been stated, neither Europe nor NATO pose a threat to Russia. This is an imposed war of Russia against Ukraine. There is no reason for it. Neither Europe nor NATO are at war with Russia.
Generally speaking, if you are at odds with your neighbour, the right and mature path is to engage in a diplomatic dialogue, not in a war.
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Consequences of this war are numerous. Amongst them a risk of global food crisis. Many countries in Africa and the Middle East are dependent to more than 50% on Ukrainian and Russian wheat. Countries already struggling to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be additionally affected by the Russian war: inflation, rising costs of food, energy and agriculture production. In order to alleviate the consequences of a food crisis, the EU has, in coordination with the African Union, set up the FARM mechanism (Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission) aimed at better coordination of food production and distribution. The mechanism is dedicated to all countries in need.
While Iran is coping with a new wave of refugees from Afghanistan and rightly expecting and receiving assistance from the international community, Russia has just created another massive humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that is bound to exacerbate the global refugee emergency and puts additional strain on available resources.
The EU is strongly committed to help alleviate the sufferings of people facing war and injustice, all over the world. There is no double standard in our approach. The EU has welcomed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Afghans and is the world's largest donor of humanitarian aid for Syria (25 billion dollars within the last decade). On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the European Union has always supported the two-state solution, remains the first international donor and in the front line to call for respect of international law.
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As the war rages on, EU member states reiterate the call for an immediate end of the invasion and a complete cease-fire without any condition. This is also in the interest of the stability and the security of the Persian Gulf region. That is why we call on all members of the international community to condemn the Russian aggression.
At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on March 2nd, 141 states, including all EU member states, condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s war against Ukraine. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Only five States worldwide opposed.
On March 24th, 140 states, including all EU member states, supported the UNGA resolution demanding full respect for and protection of all medical and humanitarian personnel, as well as hospitals and medical facilities. They also demanded that all parties protect civilians fleeing violence, including foreign nationals, notably students, without discrimination, to allow voluntary, safe and unhindered passage. We call on Russia to abide by these principles immediately.
Besides intensive diplomatic efforts, which always remain the first option to resolve conflicts, the EU has adopted significant decisions against the Russian government and its officials as a reaction to Russia’s breaches of the international law in order to raise the cost of this war.
The EU has never been more united than now to bring the war to an end and help the Ukrainians to defend themselves. And not just themselves: we strongly believe Ukraine is defending the values dear to all peoples of the world who love peace and cherish freedom, including the right of every state to freely choose its own destiny, which the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly referred to as a central piece of today’s system of international relations.
The EU Heads of Missions in Tehran