Union of Cypriots says “no to imperialist wars and occupations” with the international progressive forces and the peoples of the world!
The Resist US-led War Movement and the Union of Cypriots released a joint statement on the latest developments in Ukraine.
Union of Cypriots is also a signatory of the resolution of the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR) which was published on 14th February 2022.
As a union, we would also like to share with our supporters the statements of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) that was published on 4th February 2022, and the No to War – No to NATO network which was published on 24th February 2022, regarding the imperialist actions in Ukraine.
Union of Cypriots is the biggest Cypriot social movement that has a close relationship and solidarity with international progressive forces all over the world. Union of Cypriots is also the only formation representing Cypriots in international alliances such as the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR), the Global Ecosocialist Network, the No to War – No to NATO network, and the Anti-Imperialist Anti-Fascist United Front (AIAFUF).
NO TO IMPERIALIST WAR IN UKRAINE!
The Resist US-Led War Movement and Union of Cypriots condemns the inter-imperialist aggression in Ukraine and expresses our solidarity with the peoples of the region who have become victims of the imperialist great powers and their agendas. We acknowledge that the most important reason behind the current Ukraine conflict is primarily the aim of The US and its NATO allies in cementing their political and military control over the Ukrainian government in Kiev and secondarily Russia’s attempt to expand its influence in the region for the interests of its ruling oligarchs.
We therefore unconditionally demand that US-NATO troops withdraw their forces from the borders of Ukraine and Russia and that the Kiev government cease its attacks against the seperatist republics in the Eastern Donbass region using weapons provided by the US. This was the aggression that preceded Russia’s military intervention.
The most recent phase of the conflict started after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has initiated a military special operation in Ukraine. But today, the Russian military action has evolved into a full-scale invasion with a possible invasion of Kiev and attempted division of Ukraine.
The Ukraine conflict is another example of how countries become a playground of imperialist powers solely because of their geopolitical and economic positions. It is important to underline that also what we are witnessing today is the product of Kissingerist policies of the US-NATO which is based on “divide and rule” or “divide and expand” strategies since the Cold War era. The US’s strategic recruitment of NATO members in Central and Eastern Europe has been part of this doctrine of trying to constrict Russia’s political influence. Today many ongoing conflicts, such as the occupation of Cyprus in 1974 are the result of the same expansionist aims of the imperialist powers.
Ukraine, like Belarus, was functioning as a buffer area between NATO powers and Russia. The recent decision of Putin to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples’ Republics as independent states shows us that one of the intentions of Russia is to preserve the buffer areas between NATO and itself as much as possible. With the recognition of two independent republics and current military moves, it is not hard to assume that Russia’s intention might be to create this buffer area from its current border to the Dnieper river. That is also why Russian officials, such as the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov, use the occupation of Cyprus as a reference to justify Russia’s actions and to ask the world to recognize the leadership of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The current situation in Ukraine indicates the start of a dangerous tension not only in that specific region but all over the world. The territorial and social integrity of one nation is a guarantee of the independence and sovereignty of others. The conflict between Ukrainian and Russian nationalities within the Donbass region has been used as justification for the US to install a pro-Western regime in 2014. But the “nationalist” forces that led the 2014 ouster of former pro-Russian president Yanukovich are very different from the Russian-speaking nationalist forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The former are fascists with ties to the Ukrainian pro-Nazi party during World War 2 and have been leading the indiscriminant attacks against the Donbass region. The latter declared independence from both Ukraine and Russia after a public referendum in response to the US-backed coup and have not initiated any violence since this declaration. The US and NATO have attempted to tread on this mass expression of sovereignty by backing its puppet regime in Kiev for the past eight years.
We must stand against the occupations and divisions resulting from imperialist wars. The attempts of neocolonialists to draw new borders show us one more time that peoples of the world need to unite to struggle for peace and fight against all kinds of exploitation and foriegn intervention.
Resist US-led war! Dismantle NATO to demilitarize Europe!
NATO and Russia, out of Ukraine! Implement the Minsk Agreement!
Support the struggle of the Ukrainian people for democracy, social liberation and self-determination! Respect the referendums of the people of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea!
End All Airstrikes! Stop harming civilians!
End the US-backed occupations of Donbass, Cyprus and all other oppressed nations!
The statement of the No to War – No to NATO network (24.02.2022):
https://www.no-to-nato.org/2022/02/no-to-war-no-to-nato-condemns-the-russian-military-aggression-against-ukraine-there-is-no-justification-for-war/
The resolution of the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (14.02.2022):
https://www.icor.info/2022-1/active-resistance-against-psychological-warfare-the-imperialist-war-preparation-and-threats-in-the-ukraine-russia-conflict
The statement of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (04.02.2022):
https://ilps.info/en/no-to-us-nato-aggression-no-to-war-overukraine/