Statement on the War in Ukraine

Photo Credit: Pro-Ukraine Rally Held  in front of the Mission of Russia to the U.N. on February 24, 2022.  Ukrainians, Ukrainian-Americans, and allies gathered to show support for Ukraine and protest against the Russian invasion. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images North America)

Statement on the War in Ukraine

Reverse The Trend strongly condemns the invasion and the subsequent war that Russia has launched in Ukraine. 

We stand with the Ukrainian people and urge President Putin to adhere to the calls for peace issued by the international community and the Russian people alike. 

Russia’s military actions on Ukrainian soil are in violation of several principles of international law. These illegal and immoral actions must be met with severe consequences.  

We are especially concerned about President Putin’s threats of use of nuclear weapons on different occasions. The order to increase the readiness of Russian nuclear forces is deeply troubling. We condemn those threats in the strongest of terms.

The seizure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by Russian forces is an equally condemnable event. The world has already been subjected to a major nuclear disaster at Chernobyl; it does not need to experience a second one. Fighting in the Chernobyl area could easily trigger another chemical and environmental disaster by disturbing the still present nuclear waste. This is a risk the world cannot afford.

Similarly, we condemn Russia’s disregard for environmental safety as demonstrated by its recent shelling of and small arms fire inside the Zaporizhzhia facility. What Ukrainian President Zelensky called an act of “nuclear terror” resulted in a fire outside of the facility as well as damage inside, which could have caused an environmental disaster. Nuclear terror cannot be condoned.

The threat and use of nuclear weapons violate the tenets of international humanitarian law as underscored in the International Court of Justice’s 1996 Advisory Opinion and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which entered into force in January 2021. 

The TPNW reminds us of the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of these weapons. A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, as stated by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.  

We urge every state to sign the TPNW without delay and send the message that nuclear weapons are now prohibited and should never be used again. 

We hope the international community will heed our advice and eliminate this existential threat to our planet. 

At present, the war in Ukraine has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis that needs to be addressed without delay. Many are struggling to meet basic needs. At the same time, Ukrainians are fighting for the sovereignty of their nation. We stand in awe of their bravery, commitment, and resilience.

While the Ukrainians are continuing to defend their homeland, it is our duty to do everything in our power to put a stop to this war.

We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We ask that you stand with us in putting a stop to this war and nuclear weapons.  

Together, as youth, we support ending the war in Ukraine, universalizing the TPNW, and promoting sustainable peace through multilateral dialogue.

Endorsing Organizations

Amplify

Forum for Nation Building Nepal 

Life Savors 

Marshallese Educational Initiative

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Peace Boat US 

PeaceQuest