Newsletter – 27/01/23

Getting Off the Escalatory Ladder in Ukraine

The proxy war between NATO and Russia has escalated significantly in recent days. The decision by the US and Germany to send tanks to Ukraine means that the risk of direct confrontation is closer than ever since Russia invaded 11 months ago. 

The mixed messaging coming from both countries, which included the German Foreign Minister telling the Council of Europe that “we are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other” and Joe Biden claiming that the tanks presented “no offensive threat” to Russia, cannot hide the fact that this NATO-Russia proxy war is intensifying.

As Stop the War’s Terina Hine wrote earlier this week:

“Now these tanks are going, more will follow, and then expect a similar push for jets.

The proxy war is advancing, and the stage is being set for an all out European war. Already at least 200,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are dead or wounded, and much of Ukraine has been devastated; there are 30,000 recorded civilian casualties. The Ukrainian army cannot defeat a nuclear armed state like Russia without even more NATO support, but providing this support will only escalate or prolong the suffering.”

As we’ve been saying at Stop the War from the very beginning of the war, the only real solution to this conflict lies in a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement. Any supposed military alternatives endanger millions of lives. 

That’s why we need you to get down to London on Saturday 25th February and take to the streets to sound the alarm for peace. The longer the war goes on the more suffering will occur. We need peace talks now!

Assemble at BBC, Portland Place, W1A 1AA at 12 Noon. Marching to Trafalgar Square.

Please do all you can to join this demonstration and get the word out as far and wide as possible. You can download flyers for the demo here.

Putting on a demonstration in Central London costs a lot of money. Donate to Our Demonstration Fundraiser

A few hundred trade unionists joined us at the NEU’s Mander Hall last Saturday for what was an important and engaging conference which cemented Stop the War’s support within the labour movement.

Delegates from almost all of the major unions were part of the conference which affirmed the case for peace over militarism and included speeches from Jeremy Corbyn MP, inspiring contributions from Italian and Australian dock workers, as well as a striking ambulance worker and a junior doctor currently balloting for strike action. You can watch some of the highlights here…

A lot of discussion focused on the TUC vote for increased defence spending back in October. It’s something we must try to reverse this year. With that in mind, we’ve put together a model resolution for trade unionists to distribute and raise at upcoming meetings. Please download it below and share amongst fellow activists.

Finally, if you’re in a trade union make sure you get your branch affiliated to Stop the War. Joining the anti-war and labour movements has never been more important.