We are deeply concerned by the Russian armed aggression toward Ukraine that began on 24 February 2022. We call on President Putin, the Russian government and the Russian armed forces to immediately cease all military aggression and inhumane actions.
This military aggression aims to bring unilateral change of the status quo by force; it is a clear and indisputable violation of international law. Moreover, we strongly condemn all threatening statements insinuating the use of nuclear weapons, attacks, including those using cluster bombs, that increase the harm to civilian populations, occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, pollution and other environmental damage resulting from the destruction of oil and gas facilities, and all other actions that wreak conditions of peacelessness, as reported in the press.
Furthermore, we express our intention to stand in solidarity with all people who are opposed to this war. We stand with those inside Ukraine who live in fear and grief in the midst of these attacks, with those who seek refuge outside of Ukraine, with those who are sleepless with worry about family and friends in Ukraine, and with people inside Russia, including scholars and journalists, who are raising their voices in opposition. We stand in solidarity with all those around the globe who desire peace.
We call on everyone in Japan, politicians, scholars and journalists included, to stand between the conflicting parties and, acting with a spirit of commitment to mediation based on dialog and concrete negotiation, put their knowledge and skills to use in solving and transcending this conflict.
In Japan, Russian aggression toward Ukraine is being used by some as an excuse to forward their agenda of ending Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, building up the military, and considering possession of nuclear weapons. We, through our research and other activities, will continue to put our utmost efforts into working with scholars, journalists, and local communities to counter these discourses.
February 28th, 2022
Board members opposing Russian aggression in Ukraine,
Peace Studies Association of Japan