February 24, 2025, will mark three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This blatantly unjustified aggression has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people (both military and civilians), forced millions to flee (both to other countries and internally), and led to the destruction of entire cities and the infrastructure guaranteeing normal social life (electricity and heating networks, schools, hospitals, railways, ports, etc.).
The Ukrainian people refuse to be passive victims of this criminal aggression and are withstanding the invasion en masse, with armed and unarmed resistance. Behind the lines, grassroots self-organisation (including trade unions, feminist organisations and civic movements) plays a key role in defending the country and in the struggle for a free, social and democratic Ukraine.
However, the international situation has changed dramatically in the last year. The pro-Ukrainian stance among the EU and NATO countries, so far contested openly only by Hungary, is beginning to change for the worse. Parliamentary elections in Slovakia, the formation of a new government involving the extreme right in Austria, the victory of the incumbent president in Croatia and the still uncertain results of the upcoming elections in Romania (presidential) and Germany and the Czech Republic (parliamentary) have darkened the political landscape for Ukraine: it is becoming increasingly difficult to convince governments to introduce further sanctions on Russia and Belarus and to increase arms supplies to Ukraine, even when this is what its government and people most insist on.
In many countries, the ruling elites succumb to far-right rhetoric, portray Ukrainian refugees as “ingrates” and “welfare hunters” and even (as with Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico) stigmatise them as a “foreign force” behind attempts to overthrow his government. In some countries (Norway, Hungary, the Czech Republic) restrictions have been imposed on the entry or social rights of those fleeing the Russian invasion, while in others like Germany and Poland this regressive policy is being officially discussed.
The greatest uncertainty is caused by Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election. Although the new president has speculated about further sanctions and a reduction in oil prices so that Putin’s war chest suffers, other proposals coming from the Trump administration can hardly be called anything other than a betrayal of Ukraine: the plans to “freeze the conflict” along the current front line while denying Ukraine of the right to choose its political and military alliances and the pressure for elections in wartime have nothing to do with achieving a just peace. Seemingly fascinated by the “strong” personality of Vladimir Putin, Trump looks to be seeking an agreement not together with the Ukrainians, but over their heads.
The plans being aired for Ukraine by the European Commission and Washington would also make the price of “peace” the surrender of the country’s invaluable resources to foreign enterprises sniffing enormous profit opportunities in economic recovery, even as Ukraine’s growing debt repayment burden, though temporarily suspended, threatens to fetter reconstruction.
ENSU maintains that a genuine victory and peace for Ukraine would be a victory for small nations and democratic principles worldwide. That is why it is so feared, not only by right-wing populists or “strong” leaders, but also by proponents of “business as usual”.
As organisations in Ukraine like Solidarity Collectives have proposed, ENSU also calls on all supporters of Ukraine’s national and social rights to make the week ending on February 24 a time of international action against the Russian invasion and in solidarity with the suffering and resisting Ukrainian people.
Genuine peace for Ukraine! Stop Russia's war! Immediate cessation of Russian bombing and withdrawal of all Russian troops from all of Ukraine!
The widest possible support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their legitimate resistance against the Russian invasion!
To add your organisation's name to this appeal, email info@ukraine-solidarity.eu.