The Chairperson of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine 

Dear Sisters and Brothers!
On 24 of February, at 5 a.m (Kyiv time) Russia cowardly attacked and started the invasion into Ukraine.

The main Ukrainian cities Odesa, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are under attack. The airports near Kyiv were attacked too. The Ukrainian army and people are defending their land.

Today we have to fight for our freedom, democracy, and peace.

The Confederation of Free trade Unions of Ukraine calls all global trade union organizations, brothers and sisters from t trade unions in different countries for solidarity.

The KVPU calls to continue and strengthen international diplomatic and economic pressure on the Russian Federation and provide all possible measures to stop war and force withdraw her forces from the territory of Ukraine. An effective package of sanctions must be imposed immediately against the Russian Federation.  We call to provide all possible assistance to Ukraine.
We must unite to stop the war and ensure peace in Ukraine, in Europe, and the whole world.

As we informed before, the President of RF V.Putin by his decree of February 21, recognized the self-proclaimed  Luhansk and Donetsk Republics as sovereign and independent states. Besides, on February 21, RF started the official bringing of Russian troops into the occupied territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk Regions of Ukraine.

Thus, according to international humanitarian law, Russia has admitted to being a party to an international armed conflict.

We want to emphasize again  Ukraine observed the ceasefire regime and respected agreements, didn’t conduct military or unlawful actions in the occupied territories. It was Russia that started aggression in 2014. It was russian forces that have been shelled the cities of the Donetsk and Luhansk region this week.  Also, we call not to believe Russian propaganda.

Not only the independence of Ukraine but also the security of entire Europe and the future of the world depend on our joint response and solidarity.  

In unity is our strength!

The Chairperson of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine 

Mykhailo Volynets