Today, as every year on June 22, there will be a lot of grandstanding in Russia about World War II, about one of its bloodiest chapters – Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. A time that for Ukraine has always been a reminder of the importance of peace and of paying tribute to millions of innocent victims of World War II. This was the very period in the 20th century that should have forever changed the way every state and the world as a whole view human life – establishing life itself as the true highest value. There would have been no world wars if the leaders of that era had been guided by the value of human life rather than their imperial delusions.
Yet today, Russia began this day not by honoring those who fell in World War II, and not with signals that could help bring the current war – Russia’s war against Ukraine – closer to an end. Instead, it began with more completely unjustifiable killings. In the Sumy region, a Russian drone killed a child, a grandmother, and a man. The mother and two other children from the same family were wounded. Their home was destroyed. An ordinary home – not a military target whatsoever. In Zaporizhzhia, two people were killed overnight by Russian strikes, and seven others were injured. Tragically, the Odesa region has also seen lives lost. Strikes were carried out against the Kherson, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions. Once again, Russia targeted energy infrastructure in the Chernihiv region.
This Russian war has no justifiable cause. Putin was driven by exactly the same motives as the aggressors who came before him. He shows the same contempt for human life. He is just as delusional about this absurd “empire” of his that nobody needs. This war must be brought to an end. It has been taking people's lives for nearly five years now. This full-scale war has already lasted longer than World War I. Perhaps Russia wants to wait until it has lasted longer than World War II as well. But the world certainly does not want that, and it certainly has the power to prevent it. There must be pressure on Putin, pressure on Russia, so that all of this ends in a dignified peace and with real, guaranteed protection for human life. Ukraine has put forward every proposal needed for diplomacy. Through our collective pressure on the aggressor, we must bring Russia to a point where it has no option left but diplomacy and ending the war. Thank you to everyone helping us defend Ukraine. Thank you to everyone helping us protect human life.
