Brussels 3rd March 2014: 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.
[ENDS]

Notes to Editors
1. The delegation to establish a European Movement in Ukraine will be headed by the European Movement International’s President Mr Jo Leinen MEP and will consist of European Movement representatives from Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives from AEGEE – The European Students Forum and the Young European Federalists. The delegation will meet with local EU and OSCE representatives, Polish, Swiss and German Ambassadors to Ukraine, Pro-European Foundations, local media representatives, Ukrainian Parliamentarians, grassroots political movements as well as the British, Belgian, German, US, Swiss, Norwegian and Polish chambers of commerce in Ukraine.

2. A press conference will take place in Kiev to conclude the delegation’s visit on Friday, 7th March, 11:00am on the premises of UKRINFORM (Address: Bohdan Khmelnytsky St, Kyiv, Ukraine 01001).

3. The European Movement International (EMI) is one of the largest pan and pro-European civil society organisations with currently more than 70 Member Organisations, bringing together representatives from European associations, political parties, enterprises and trade unions. www.europeanmovement.eu