Ukraine solidarity activists in the Green Party of England and Wales, organised in the Green Ukraine Solidarity network, have put together the following motion to its upcoming Autumn conference (2-4 October 2026, Brighton). It is proposed by British-Ukrainian activist and GPEW member Valentina Butenko. From 24 to 31 July Green members can add themselves as co-proposers here; from 13 to 27 August they can vote to prioritise the motion for discussion at the conference.

A very similar motion was put forward to the 2025 Autumn and 2026 Spring conferences (see here and here) but not reached for debate. If you’re in the GPEW, please help us make sure this time it is!

For more information or to help, email green.ukraine.solidarity@gmail.com

A149: Strengthening Solidarity with Ukraine

In the face of rising right-wing authoritarianism globally, we support Ukraine’s
just struggle against Russian imperialism, for self-determination and
independence. We support workers’, climate and ecological, social justice and
liberation struggles in Ukraine. We support anti-imperialist voices within the
Russian Federation, particularly those representing indigenous peoples, who see
Ukraine’s victory as essential for a decolonized and democratic Russia.

Conference notes a series of concerning events since late 2025. The Trump regime
has progressively rolled out the red carpet for indicted war criminal Putin, and
released a National Security Plan that has elements of ethno-nationalism and
hostility towards Europe.

The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of urging Russia to immediately and
unconditionally cease all illegal military aggression against Ukraine and to
return the illegally abducted Ukrainian children who have been forcibly
kidnapped and deported from occupied territories and settled into re-education
camps, subjected to abuse and indoctrination under Moscow’s explicit direction.
The UN has explicitly recognized the deportation of Ukrainian children as a
‘crime against humanity’ and found the direct involvement of Vladimir Putin and
Russian authorities at the highest level.

In the past few months, Russia has moved into the most vicious stage of civilian
attacks against Ukraine – launching an average of 5000 drones a month at Ukraine
targeted at high-rise apartment buildings, hospitals and schools and using
civilian suffering as a coercive tool.

The Trump administration has continued to engage in rhetorical zig zags,
changing its position after every friendly diplomatic meeting with Russia,
whilst systematically reducing crucial aid for Ukraine’s continued survival.

This demands the stringent support of the Green Party for Ukraine’s freedom,
independence and sovereignty in the face of Trump’s cowardice and bending to the
authoritarian manipulation of the Russian imperial regime.

Conference also notes:

1. The party’s support for Ukraine’s rights; for anchoring Ukraine’s voice at
the centre of any negotiations; tightening sanctions on Russia including closing
fossil-fuel loopholes; for military and humanitarian aid; and ensuring
protection for Ukrainian refugees.

2. That Russia’s illegal invasion and occupation involve widespread human rights
abuses – including killings, torture, mass kidnapping of children, deliberate
ecological destruction, and forcible population transfers and displacement.

3. That Russia’s war of aggression has resulted in many tens of thousands of
Ukrainian civilian casualties (killed and wounded), four million internally
displaced, five million refugees and possibly hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian
military casualties (as well as Russia sending to death or injury over a million
Russian Federation soldiers). In 2025 and 2026 Russia has drastically escalated
its assault, with most days seeing hundreds of drone and missile strikes,
frequently targeted at civilians and civilian infrastructure.

4. That Russia is seeking to extort Ukraine, demanding cession of its
internationally recognised territory (in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and
Zaporizhzhia regions) and control over strategic natural resources and
industrial assets. These imperialist demands, if acceded to, would shred
Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and its people’s right to self-
determination.

5. That Ukraine’s progressive social movements and trade unions support the
country’s right to self-defence, while pushing back against all right-wing
authoritarianism on issues such as corruption, inequality, human rights and
workers’ rights.

6. That our party is the only parliamentary party in England and Wales
consistent in supporting the liberation of all peoples from military aggression
and colonial exploitation from Palestine to Ukraine and beyond. That standing
firmly in support of Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and defence is at the heart
of maintaining the fairness and consistency of Green Party policy.

To strengthen, embed and develop this approach, Conference calls for:

a. The centering of Ukrainians’ voices in negotiations, peace and reconstruction
initiatives, with the objectives that there should be a sustainable, just peace,
and that Ukraine’s territory and resources should serve the interests of its
people, under democratic control, not those of foreign or domestic oligarchs and
corporations.

b. The UK government to close fossil-fuel sanction loopholes.

c. Stronger sanctions on the Russian state and complicit corporate organisations
and individuals, and action on the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

d. Increased humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine to help it defend itself,
push back the occupation, and negotiate from a position of strength – in the
context of continued and genuine diplomatic efforts towards resolution, but
recognising the Russian government’s resistance to tangible ceasefires and
meaningful negotiations.

e. Cancellation of Ukraine’s international debt, to free resources for
humanitarian, defence and social needs.

f. UK promotion of strong international initiatives to ensure justice and
accountability for Russia’s war crimes, including freedom and support for
abducted children.

g. Support for Ukrainians and other refugees from war in the UK, including
longer-term visa extensions and a clear pathway to permanent residence for
Ukrainian and other refugees.

h. Solidarity and mutual support between UK and Ukrainian social movements.

i. Twinning between UK and Ukraine municipalities to share support, experience
and expertise.

Conference instructs the following named Green Party bodies to take the
following actions:

i. GPEX and GPRC working with other bodies and representatives as appropriate,
to work alongside Ukrainian organisations in the UK, Green Parties
internationally, trade unions and other civil society partners (as well as where
appropriate anti-imperialists within the Russian Federation) to galvanise
pressure on the UK and other governments to aid Ukraine.

ii. The International Committee, working with the Green Party Trade Union Group,
to organise a delegation to Ukraine in the next six months after adoption of
this motion to visit and build solidarity with civil society and trade unions in
Ukraine.

iii. Campaigns Committee to work with UK and Ukrainian trade unions to campaign
on defence of workers’ rights in Ukraine and the rights of Ukrainians working
here.

iv. Campaigns Committee, spokespeople and elected representatives to campaign
proactively in support of Ukrainian refugees as part of our wider refugee rights
campaigning.

v. Campaigns Committee, spokespeople and elected representatives to campaign in
support of the struggle for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

Conference further instructs the International Committee and GPEX to review
progress against these objectives and to report to the next conference,
including to ensure clear, consistent election campaigning, manifestos and media
output.

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