Decision by the Yabloko Federal Political Committee of 24 March, 2023

Published on 13 April, 2023

Photo: Mariupol / Photo by Alexander Chernykh, Kommersant

The Yabloko party, as a democratic opposition to the present system of power in Russia, has repeatedly stated its principally negative stance both as regards the strategic course of the state’s leadership headed by Vladimir Putin, and in connection with the events that began in Crimea and Donbass in 2014, and transformed into an international clash in 2022.

The Yabloko party has repeatedly, consistently and openly warned Russian society about the danger of unleashing a military confrontation with Ukraine, the political dead end of this step and its catastrophic consequences for Russia.

Let us point out only two documents of the Federal Political Committee of the Party: the decision “On emergency measures to prevent war” of 25 January, 2022, and the statement “The Yabloko Party considers the war with Ukraine the gravest crime” of 24 February, 2022. Obviously, the assessments expressed then have not lost their relevance now. However, we failed to convey simple and obvious truths to Russian society.

In the present situation, there is no other way out than to demand a ceasefire. This requirement is only the first condition for all subsequent actions: to start a full-fledged exchange of prisoners and the bodies of the dead, return children to their parents, and organise negotiations. This will not be the beginning of a peaceful settlement yet, but only the emergence of some hope for it, because it is obvious that the level of the tragedy and the hatred in people exceeds all boundaries.

An astonishing logic is demonstrated by some of Ukraine’s allies, who remain committed to the strategy of “victory on the battlefield” and, thereby, only deepen the tragedy and losses.

The denial of the need for a ceasefire and saving the lives of both civilians and the military on both sides of the confrontation causes astonishment and indignation. This makes us think about the real purport of the system of fundamental values of those who call themselves democrats and the real value of human lives for them.

The demand for the withdrawal of troops was relevant at the period when a global conflict could have been avoided or prevented at its very initial stage. And we openly declared this and demanded this in absolutely concrete terms (see above). Now, after everything that has happened since 24 February, 2022, one can demand and call for only one thing – to stop the killing of hundreds and thousands of people, only for this, everything else is the subject of a long and difficult process of further peaceful settlement.

But the situation is aggravated by the determination of all the main participants in the confrontation to go further and further, towards the spread of the catastrophe; whereas responsibility of the current Russian regime for what has been happening is primary and self-evident.

There are also observers of this tragedy – China is quite predictably the most attentive and patient observer, it is definitely trying on the role of the main beneficiary of the current confrontation. The leadership of the People’s Republic of China pragmatically limit themselves to general statements, believing that the prospects are now unfolding in favour of the People’s Republic of China, and victims, destruction, and refugees are merely costs in the redistribution of new spheres of influence and priorities. It would be useful to note that the hopes of some representatives of the Russian Federation for China as a partner that will provide support for Russia in the global confrontation are just as naive as the belief in the infinity of Western assistance to Ukraine.

At the same time, voices of extreme anxiety are becoming increasingly more distinct on the world arena. Among them are expert opinions of respected pundits, intellectuals, politicians, diplomats and clerical hierarchs, including Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

We should note here the assessment of the prospects for military confrontation given by General Petr Pavel, the current President of the Czech Republic, a professional military man and ex-head of the NATO Military Committee: “Many countries, many politicians expect some progress this year. I believe that Ukraine will have only one attempt to launch a major counteroffensive. Therefore, if they decide to launch a major counteroffensive and it fails, it will be extremely difficult to get funds for the next one”. President Pavel explains his thesis not only by financial problems in Europe, but also the fatigue of society in many EU countries regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and in the US – by the approaching presidential elections.

In a few months, all will find themselves again in approximately the same situation as the current one, without guarantees that killing of people is stopped and a ceasefire reached, and a global war prevented. The cost of these impending months of continued hostilities in the form of spring-summer offensives and counteroffensives is many thousands of lives, blood, grief, suffering, and loss of the future.

The situation is closely approaching the point where hostilities will reach the brink of mutual destruction due to the real possibility of the use of nuclear weapons.

THE FEDERAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE STATES THE FOLLOWING:

1. The requirement to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine is fundamental.

2. There is no other alternative to a peaceful settlement of the military confrontation in Ukraine.

3. The continuation of hostilities in Ukraine will have catastrophic consequences, making the threat of a nuclear conflict realistic.

4. All peace initiatives must be based on respect for the norms of the UN Charter.

5. The UN and the OSCE should make every possible effort to support peace initiatives aimed at ending the military confrontation in Ukraine.

6. The initiative for a ceasefire agreement should become an international public movement, in which political forces and public organisations will take part, condemning the military method of resolving any interstate conflicts.

Grigory Yavlinsky,

Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of

the Yabloko party

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“On the priority steps to bring to an end the killing of people in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict” Resolution of the Yabloko Party Congress, dated 16 April, 2022

“On urgent measures to prevent a possible nuclear conflict”, decision by the Federal Political Committee of 29 September, 2022

“On the critical need for an early ceasefire as soon as possible”, decision by the Yabloko Federal Political Committee of 20 October, 2022

“Just Stop!”, article by Grigory Yavlinsky published by the Novaya Rasskaz-Gazeta, 5 February, 2023

“A ceasefire is the first and inevitable step towards peace” decision by the Yabloko Federal Political Committee of 24 March, 2023