The Ukrainian World Congress released the following statement on April 2.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is deeply concerned with Russia’s recent build-up of military forces at Ukraine’s border and violation of its ceasefire agreement. Equally troubling are the series of provocative statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, other officials and Russian media personalities regarding Ukraine. All these developments have raised the prospect that Moscow might launch a new offensive in Ukraine.
In recent weeks, Russia has been amassing unprecedented forces along the border with Ukraine, particularly in the occupied Crimean Peninsula, and in the Rostov, Bryansk and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation. This has coincided with a breakdown in the ceasefire on the part of Russian proxy forces along the line of contact in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine, which has led to several deaths and multiple casualties of Ukrainian service people.
The current escalation in and around eastern and southern Ukraine, the largest in recent years, poses a threat not only to the stability of Ukraine but also to the Black Sea and European regions. The UWC condemns Russia’s escalating provocations, which have been coupled with brutal threats from Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov that Ukraine could face destruction.
“We welcome the strong statements by international leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and the foreign ministers of Canada and the United Kingdom condemning Russia’s recent actions. These reassurances to the Ukrainian people are comforting as they face an increasingly belligerent and aggressive Russian leadership. We call on all European leaders as well as the entire global community to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s increasing military aggression,” said UWC President Paul Grod.
The Ukrainian World Congress urges Ukrainian communities and friends of Ukraine worldwide to closely monitor the current situation and call on their respective governments to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.