Today, the European Movement International joins voices across the globe in condemning the Russian Federation’s threat to send additional troops to the Crimean peninsula, violating international law and neighbourly relations with Ukraine.

An unprovoked assault on Ukrainian sovereign territory, under the pretence of protecting Russia’s national interests, would be completely unjustified. As a nation that deems itself to be attentive to international law, illustrated by its membership of both the Council of Europe and the UN Security Council, the Russian Federation is breaking its promises to the international community to uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the European Cultural Convention.

‘Today, a new war is looming in Europe, and peaceful solutions must immediately be sought for the de-escalation of the situation in Crimea’ stated Jo Leinen MEP, President of the European Movement International. ‘This must include both the withdrawal of Russian troops from Crimea, as well as Ukrainian restraint in not responding to such provocations with military action’.

‘The European Union has a duty to join other international stakeholders to immediately start negotiations with Russia, in order to preserve peace on our continent’ continued Mr Leinen.

The European Movement believes that for long term stability in Ukraine, stronger and more permanent links between civil society associations in Ukraine and other Council of Europe member states are necessary. Therefore, on 6th – 8th March, a European Movement delegation will travel to Kiev to support the permanent establishment of the pro-European movement in Ukraine.