Defend Ukraine, tackle the cost of living crisis, protect democracy - Workers' Group statement on the 3rd year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

This week three years have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The numbers are hard to estimate with accuracy, but more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have died, more than double are wounded. More than 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died, nearing half a million wounded as well. More than 100,000 Russian soldiers have died, and more than half a million have been wounded. Ukrainian life has been completely disturbed, its infrastructure damaged, the east of the country, holding some of the most productive agricultural land of the planet, and plenty of natural resources, now nearly barren and filled with unexploded ordinance and mines. Putin has tightened his grip on Russia, as political dissidents are prosecuted and merely talking of 'war' may land you in prison.

This invasion was just the continuation of the 2014 occupation of Crimea, and the hybrid war launched in the Donbass. The logical sequel of the invasion of Georgia, and part of a wider vision, in which many countries in Central and Eastern Europe do not have a right to self-determination, but may only exist as vassals of the Russian empire. As such, Putin's campaign does not stop here: Russia has funded all sort of extremist parties in Europe, attempting to divide the EU and destabilise it.

In case having a war in our doorstep was not an issue problematic enough, other looming dangers are closing down on us too. The White House is now occupied by a man who considers the EU as a geopolitical problem, and whose aides camp around Europe fostering far right extremist parties. This very week, they rammed a resolution through the UN security council about peace in Ukraine, without even mentioning its territorial integrity. We are sandwiched between two blocks playing realpolitik. The US president accused Ukraine of starting the war, presumably by not surrendering unconditionally and instead choosing to resist. The EU now faces even military threats by the US, as its president eyes Danish territories in the Artic with the same logic of spheres of influence.

Amidst this situation, the energy crisis is far from over and has turned into a full blown cost of living crisis, fanning the flames of the far right across the continent, as anger mounts among workers and citizens that feel betrayed and abandoned by our political system. Funded by Russia, and now actively supported by the likes of Elon Musk, these often not-so-subtle anymore examples of 21^st century fascism already constitute the main opposition forces in countries like Germany and France.

This situation shows something very clearly: the current path is not sustainable. Pro-Russian, far right parties are growing and will eventually derail any hope of a unified, human-rights based policy in the European Union. The trend endangers our democracies as such. European member states must get their act together in defence coordination, which sometimes might mean increasing military expenditure, but that mostly means what coordination means: common organisation. Together, the European Union is already one of the largest armies in the world. But nowadays it remains divided and organised in national silos. We must also rethink our technological sovereignty, given the erratic nature of current US politics for the foreseeable future. And first and foremost, we must combat the cost of living crisis. The issues at the root of social discontent, unemployment, impoverished workers, bad working conditions, impossibility to access housing, to pay energy bills.

We take this 3^rd anniversary of the invasion as another opportunity to call for Peace, for a dignified peace that honours the pre-2014 borders and that does not simply mean a halt in the way of another invasion, as we did last year. We recognise the valour and example with which Ukrainians at home and at the frontlines have resisted until now, and we ask them, in this difficult time, to not forget what makes this fight worth fighting, which goes beyond national identity. It encompasses the idea of a free society, of democracy, of social dialogue and vibrant civil society, of solidarity and freedom. We call on EU leaders to keep the pressure with sanctions and to be bold in defending our social model as the grounds on which our economies can flourish. We call for the support to Ukraine to continue and increase, for should they fall, we will be next in line. Support for Ukraine, a strong economy, and strong social rights are not exclusive. In fact, they need one another to continue.

From the Workers' Group, we will continue working with Ukrainian Trade Unions and civil society at large, as well as with Russian independent civil society, to stop the war and go back to the pre-2014 borders, fostering a democratic future for both Ukraine and Russia.