{"id":9519,"date":"2025-02-24T10:25:40","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.aegee.org\/?p=9519"},"modified":"2025-02-24T10:33:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:33:42","slug":"statement-three-years-since-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.aegee.org\/statement-three-years-since-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Statement | Three Years Since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

February 24th 2025 marks three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This attack is a continuation of violence and violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity that started with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 after the Maidan Revolution. For 1095 days, Ukraine has been fighting for its right to exist as an independent state, a right that Russia denies and that more than 46000 Ukrainian soldiers have given their lives for, while more than 390000 have been injured on the battlefield (<\/span>kyiv independent<\/span><\/a> quoting president Zelensky).<\/span><\/p>\n

Russia continues to commit numerous human rights abuses in Ukraine, including the ill-treatment, torture and killings of POWs, civilian casualties, and efforts to restrict fundamental rights (UN OHCHR). Russia is also responsible for unlawful detentions and forced disappearances of civilians. Through the abduction of Ukrainian children, the imposition of Russian laws and russification in occupied territories of Ukraine, Russia is attacking the future of Ukrainians to live independently in their home nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, the US Defense Secretary has voiced that a return to Ukraine\u2019s pre-2014 borders would be unrealistic. This statement raises great concerns for AEGEE-Europe as it constitutes an attack on Ukraine\u2019s territorial integrity and right to self-determination according to Art. 1.2 and Art. 2.4 UN Charter. It is to be stressed that Russia\u2019s acts in Ukraine have no justification and must not be recognized as a new status quo. Statements by Ukraine\u2019s closest allies that go against these principles are highly irritating and counterproductive. AEGEE-Europe calls on Ukraine\u2019s allies to respect public international law and to uphold and increase their support for Ukraine. This also applies to the winners of the elections to the German Bundestag yesterday, who should be reminded that Russia will never stop its imperial aspirations if Ukraine\u2019s allies give in to its illegal demands. In light of the US\u2019 recent policy changes, a strong and united Europe as an answer to Russia\u2019s aggression is more crucial than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

It must be clear that all so-called negotiations or solutions to the war in Ukraine can only happen when Ukraine, including Ukrainian civil society, women, and youth representatives, are included in them. Any plans about Ukraine\u2019s future without Ukrainians must not be accepted, and at no point should Ukraine be pressured into them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We remain in full solidarity and support with Ukraine and its youth, and continue to condemn Russia\u2019s illegal actions in Ukraine. We call on Russia to immediately seize its attack on Ukraine, and to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We encourage everybody to step up their support for Ukraine, via showing signs of solidarity by going to demonstrations, voting for parties that support Ukraine, informing yourself about Ukraine by using verified sources, or donating. More information about how you can support Ukraine can be obtained in our <\/span>Help Ukraine Booklet<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the aforementioned AEGEE-Europe:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n