Russia continues launching missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine. There are no signs that Russia is ready to end the war. Facing defeat in some regions of Ukraine, Russia’s military troops are being regrouped and replenished to renew the advance into Ukraine’s territory.
At this moment Russian warships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov block Ukraine’s coast and provide fire support to the Russian land forces. A group of at least six ships and two submarines is deployed to the Black Sea, equipped with up to 50 cruise missiles ready for strikes. The floating Russian mines seized by Russia in Crimea in 2014 and released in 2022, pose the gravest security threat to all vessels.
No one greets Russia in Ukraine. Atrocities committed by the Russian troops have only reduced to zero any pro-Russian sentiments. In the towns temporarily under control of Russian troops, the Ukrainian population is actively protesting against them despite intimidations and hunt by the Russian occupiers for activists, journalists and local authorities
“There is nothing more dangerous than an insidious enemy, but there is nothing more poisonous than a feigned friend.” These are the words of the great Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda. On February 24, we realized this truth when a feigned friend started a war against Ukraine.
This is not a war of two armies. This is a war of two worldviews. The war waged by barbarians who shell the Skovoroda Museum and believe that their missiles can destroy our philosophy. It is essential that we are free people who have their own path. Today we are waging war on this path and we will not give anyone a single piece of our land and our history.
On February 24, Russia launched an offensive. Treading on the same rake. Every occupier who comes to our land treads on it. We have been through different wars. But they all had the same final.
Our land was sown with bullets and shells, but no enemy was able to take root here. Enemy chariots and tanks drove through our fields, but it did not bear fruit. Enemy arrows and missiles flew in our skies, but no one will be able to overshadow our blue sky.
There are no shackles that can bind our free spirit. There is no occupier who can take root in our free land. There is no invader who can rule over our free people. Sooner or later we win. Despite the horde, despite Nazism, despite the mixture of the first and the second, which is the current enemy, we win, because this is our land.
On May 8, 2022 – the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, Ukraine and the world commemorated all victims of World War II. The international community has claimed: “Never again”, but now the tragedy has been repeated.
For decades, russia has claimed its sole “great victory” over nazism neglecting the heroic input of others, and cherishing its imperialistic ambitions.
Now it is the russian federation that has waged the aggression over a sovereign country in Europe. Russian troops are using Nazi symbols while committing war crimes in Ukraine.
By its cruelty, putin’s regime has already surpassed Hitler’s Third Reich: stealing of territories, mass killings, rape, loot, torture, and forced labor.
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is increasingly deteriorating. In view of the ongoing war, unfortunately, humanitarian problems increase every day. The worst situation remains in the city of Mariupol, destroyed now for 95%.
I call upon the Government of Lao PDR to support the efforts of international community to open humanitarian corridors and save the innocent civilians of Mariupol and other eastern cities and towns.
On 9th of May, 2022, exactly on the day of victory over nazism in the WWII, Russian troops resumed their assault on the Azovstal plant as soon as the UN convoy left Donetsk Region. The situation on Azovstal plant is an absolute humanitarian disaster.
Russian soldiers are the war criminals who have no idea about an honor. They rape and barbarically kill women and men and children. Invader’s army launch rockets at residential areas, hospitals and maternity hospitals, theaters and libraries. Russian soldiers loot and destroy temporarily occupied towns and villages in Ukraine. The world will never forget the crimes of Russia.
Russia should be brought to justice. Due to Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine, 42 countries have already appealed to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to launch an investigation. If the court rules against Russia, the people who perpetrated these crimes can be detained in any country that recognizes the jurisdiction of this court.
The unprecedented sanctions are of particular importance, isolating russia’s economy and severely undermining its economic and financial capacities to continue aggression. Atrocities, which continue to be committed by russia in Ukraine, confirm that sanctions must be further strengthened and expanded, as well as introduced by those countries which have not made this until now. The world has to stop buying russian commodities, which continue to finance kremlin’s war against Ukraine.
We call upon countries of the world to introduce and/or further strengthen sanctions against the aggressor, in particular disconnecting all russian banks from SWIFT, imposing trade and transport embargo on russia, including in oil and gas sector, as well as sales of gold and minerals, encouraging private business to divest from russian assets and currency.
Ukraine is trying to do its best to stop the war. But, to be honest, atrocities and war crimes committed by the russian troops in Ukraine limit the space for negotiations. The possible murder of Ukrainian defenders in Mariupol or organizing fake “referendums” in the occupied territories may put an end to the negotiation process.
The consequences of russia’s military aggression against Ukraine are palpable for the world’s economy already, but they may be catastrophic in certain respects for several regions of the world. Ukraine provides food to more than 400 million people around the world; today’s world prices for agricultural products prove that the russia’s military aggression will eventually affect almost everyone.
The agricultural sector is the key sector in Ukraine as it represents 41% of the commodity sector, where 19% of all workers are employed. Indeed, for the time being, more than 30% of the country’s territories are either unsafe for production or occupied. Part of the agricultural lands is damaged and mined, and the agricultural infrastructure, warehouses, transport and energy industries are damaged. Seaports are blocked, and logistics and economic connections are broken. Ukrainian farmers experience an acute shortage of fuel, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, spare parts, etc. Workers of our agricultural enterprises are involved in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, territorial defence and volunteering. All these factors have resulted in a critical decline in production for both Ukraine and the world. According to the UN Secretary-General, the war in Ukraine threatens hunger and poverty for 1.7 billion people worldwide, which is 20% of the world’s population.
Russia’s war against Ukraine disrupted the usual functioning of the world food market because these two countries together account for 30% of world exports of wheat and barley, 18% of corn, and about 80% of oil and oil meal. In 2021, Ukraine supplied agricultural products to more than 180 countries. Supplies of Ukrainian wheat account for more than 10% of annual wheat consumption in 15 countries.
The war in Europe has already affected about 25% of the world cereal trade and has caused an increase in world prices, food inflation and reduced access to food in the countries importing food from Ukraine and russia. In particular, those are wheat, sunflower oil and especially poultry meat that is intensively imported to Laos now.
One shouldn’t think Laos and Ukraine are very far apart from each other. Consequences of war will have direct impact on world’s economy and on Laos as well.
We will be very thankful to the Government of Lao PDR to join the efforts of international community to support Ukraine, consider providing humanitarian aid.
We call upon the People of Laos to continue donations for peace.
STAND WITH UKRAINE!
