OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI‑WAR CONFERENCE IN LONDON

On 20 June, the Stop the War Coalition is hosting a major International Conference Against War in London. Back in January, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign wrote to Lindsey German, Convenor of StW, stressing that any credible discussion on the war must include those directly affected by Russia’s unprovoked invasion — particularly Ukrainian trade unionists and democratic left organisations. We offered to help arrange such participation.  We received a holding reply on 28 January that dercisions were yet to be made –  no such Ukrainian speakers were invited.

To ensure these voices are not excluded, we are publishing a powerful Open Letter to the conference from Snizhana Oleksun, Chair of the Council of the Ukrainian democratic‑socialist organisation Social Movement (Sotsialnyi Rukh). Snizhana is a teacher and trade union activist in Kryvyi Rih, a major industrial city in Ukraine. Her message speaks directly from the frontlines of resistance to Russian imperialism and the struggle for social justice. We shall distribute this Open Letter to those attending the Conference

As the letter states, “Our voices — the voices of those resisting imperialism, fighting for social justice, and living this war — are absent.” We urge readers to share this widely so that those living the consequences of this war — are not silenced by their exclusion from this conference.

OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI‑WAR CONFERENCE

We gather today in London at a moment when Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine continues to devastate cities, workplaces and communities. Every day brings new missile strikes on homes, schools, hospitals, rail depots and energy infrastructure. Millions of workers are displaced; thousands have been killed at their workplaces; entire regions face occupation, repression and forced “Russification”.

Yet no Ukrainian socialists, trade unionists, feminists or LGBTQ+ activists have been invited to speak at this conference. Our voices — the voices of those resisting imperialism, fighting for social justice, and living this war — are absent.

Lowering our guns means our defeat

The conference call urges people to “lower your guns and raise our wages”. For Ukrainian workers, this is not an option. If we lower our weapons, we are conquered. Occupation does not bring peace — it brings occupation, mass graves, child abduction, deportations, and the destruction of independent unions and civil society.

A peace policy that forgets those under attack is no peace policy at all.

A people’s resistance — and a struggle for social justice

This war has the character of a people’s war. More than a million Ukrainians serve in the defence forces; millions more keep the country running — railway workers, nurses, energy workers, teachers, volunteers.  Every day, workers contact us about drones they must crowdfund, colleagues killed at work, unpaid wages, and the grinding pressures of war.

Ukrainian democratic socialists and trade unionists fight on two fronts:

• Against Russian imperialism, which seeks to erase our country and crush our movements.
• Against neoliberal policies at home, which weaken labour rights, privatise public assets, and undermine the war effort by placing the burden on ordinary people while oligarchic wealth remains untouched.

We reject both imperialism and austerity.  We fight for a Ukraine that is free, democratic and socially just Ukraine.

To the international left and peace movement

Too many progressive forces still view the world through outdated lenses, imagining the United States as the only imperialist power and Russia as its victim. This framework cannot explain why Ukraine continues to resist even when US military aid is withdrawn. It cannot explain why workers, feminists, LGBTQ+ activists and socialists in Ukraine overwhelmingly support resistance.

Opposing arms to Ukraine in the name of “anti‑militarism” leaves us defenceless. It is not solidarity — it is abandonment.

What real solidarity looks like

We call everyone who attends the conference today to:

• Stand with Ukrainian workers, unions and social movements resisting invasion and fighting for democratic rights.
• Support military and humanitarian aid that enables Ukraine to survive and defend people.
• Oppose neoliberal reforms that undermine labour rights and social protections during wartime.
• Demand a just peace — one decided by Ukrainians, not imposed by Trump, Putin and great‑power deals that reward aggression.

The far-right in the UK, USA and elsewhere are Putin apologists. Ukraine’s defeat would strengthen fascists and authoritarian forces everywhere.

Ukraine’s resistance,— the survival of our labour movement —  assists struggles for democracy and social justice across the world.

Do not exclude Ukrainian voices.

Do not call occupation “peace”.

Stand with Ukraine. Stand with Ukrainian workers.

Snizhana Oleksun, 

Council of  Social Movement (Sotsialnyi Rukh),

The Chairman of the Council of the SR Snezhany Oleksun (right) and the member of the Council Maryna Mykhalyova speaking at the  Congress of the Left Party of Sweden (18.04.2026, Örebro)