Statement by the IPU Executive Committee on Russia’s war on Ukraine
We, the members of the IPU Executive Committee, have reviewed current developments in Ukraine. We deplore the ongoing loss of life and suffering caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the countless victims of the protracted war, which continues to cause widespread despair and destruction while creating risks to global stability. We condemn in the strongest possible terms all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.
The imperative of humanitarian protection must be upheld without exception. Even wars have rules: we call on all parties to respect the Geneva Conventions and fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Recalling our previous statements and IPU resolutions vis-à-vis the war in Ukraine, we reiterate our strong condemnation of the use of violence as a means to settle disputes.
The Charter of the United Nations is unequivocal. No State has the right to threaten or use force against the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of other States, including Ukraine.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the threat or use of nuclear weapons as an unacceptable violation of our shared humanity.
We underscore the importance of dialogue and the need to keep all diplomatic channels open. We urge the Russian Federation and Ukraine to engage in meaningful negotiations based on the principles that peace must speak to the roots of conflict and leave no one behind.
Recalling the Geneva Declaration on Parliamentary Diplomacy, adopted by the 148th IPU Assembly in March 2024, we reiterate our unwavering support for the role of the IPU and its Task Force on the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine in contributing to diplomatic and humanitarian efforts at the parliamentary level.
We welcome the IPU’s endeavours to keep close contact with the parties involved in the conflict to promote dialogue. We acknowledge the efforts deployed by the IPU President and Secretary General and encourage them, in conjunction with the Task Force, to pursue consultations with all parties to the conflict with a view to its speedy resolution.
Parliamentary diplomacy is indispensable in the pursuit of peace, especially when traditional channels of diplomacy are disrupted. We salute the IPU Task Force’s current focus on advancing dialogue on nuclear safety, food security, access to and exchange of prisoners of war, environmental protection, and the situation of conflict-affected children.
The IPU, true to its foundational values established 135 years ago, will continue to work to advance international cooperation, bridge divides, and promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The IPU Executive Committee.
Requiem for victims of the attack on the Ohmatdyt National Specialized Children's Hospital in Kyiv, 12 July ©AFP
