Ukrainian Activist Condemns Russia’s Violence and Ukraine’s Ban on Men Fleeing

Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine by launching a missile attack against a government building and bombarding civilian areas in Kharkiv. The missile strike reportedly targeted civilians with thermobaric and cluster bombs and killed more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers at Okhtyrka’s military base. Meanwhile, the U.S. rejected Ukrainian President Zelensky’s demand for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it could lead to a war between the U.S. and Russia. This comes as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators failed to reach an agreement on Monday and the European Union approved Ukraine’s emergency application to be a candidate to join the union. We go to Kyiv to speak with Yurii Sheliazhenko, executive secretary of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, who says “support of Ukraine in the West is mainly military support” and reports that his country “focuses on warfare and almost ignores nonviolent resistance to war.” He also discusses Zelensky’s response to the crisis, the European Union’s approval of Ukraine’s emergency application, and whether he plans to leave the war-torn city of Kyiv soon.

TRANSCRIPT

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AMY GOODMAN:The sixth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has come to an end, with Russia intensifying its bombardment. Satellite images show a convoy of 40-miles of Russian tanks, armored vehicles and artillery headed towards Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Earlier today, a Russian missile hit a government building in Kharkiv, causing a huge explosion in Ukraine’s second-largest city. Kharkiv’s civil areas were also shelled. Ukrainian authorities also reported that 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in Okhtyrka’s eastern city after a Russian missile attack on a military base.

Monday was a day of talks between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides are expected to meet again within the next few days. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesky has called for a no fly zone over Ukraine. However, the United States and its allies have rejected the idea, claiming that it could lead to a wider war.

Ukraine and human rights organizations have also accused Russia that they targeted civilians with the use of thermobaric and cluster bombs. These so-called vacuum bombs, which are non-nuclear explosives that can be used in warfare, are the most potent. Russia has denied that it targeted civilian infrastructure or civilians. The International Criminal Court has also announced plans for an investigation into war crimes in Ukraine.

The United Nations General Assembly met in an emergency session Monday to discuss the situation. This is Ukraine’s Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya.

SERGIY KYSLYTSYA:International peace cannot survive if Ukraine does not survive. If Ukraine does not recover, the United Nations cannot survive. Have no illusions. We shouldn’t be surprised if Ukraine fails to survive. Now, we can save Ukraine and save the United Nations. We can also save democracy and defend our values.

AMY GOODMAN:Just before we broadcast, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, addressed the European Parliament via video. The Parliament stood up to give him a standing ovation at the end.

We go now to Kyiv, where we’re joined by Yurii Sheliazhenko. He is the executive secretary of Ukraine Pacifist Movement as well as a member of the European Bureau of Conscious Objection. Yurii is also a director at World BEYONDWar and a research assistant KROKUniversity of Kyiv.

Yurii Sheliazhenko, we are glad to be back. Democracy Now!We spoke to your just before the Russian invasion. Can you talk about what’s happening on the ground right now and what you are calling for as a pacifist?

YURII SHELIAZHENKO:Good morning. Thank you for covering peace protests as part of the pains and passions associated with war and balanced journalism.

With reckless military operations, military politicization between East and West went too far. NATORussia’s invasion of Ukraine and nuclear threats to the world, expansion, exclusion of Russia of international institutions, and expulsions from Russia of diplomats effectively pushing Putin from diplomacy towards escalation. We must not break the last bonds of humanity by waging war. We need to preserve and strengthen communication and cooperation among all people on Earth. Each individual effort has a value.

It is disappointing that West support of Ukraine is primarily military support and the imposition on painful economic sanctions Russia. Reporting on conflict focuses almost entirely on warfare and almost completely ignores nonviolent resistance. However, brave Ukrainian civilians are changing street sign and blocking roads and tanks to stop war. For example, in Berdyansk city and Kulykіvka village, people organized peace rallies and convinced the Russian military to get out. The Peace movement has warned for years that militarization recklessly will lead to war. We were correct. Many people were prepared for peaceful conflict resolution or non-violent resistance to aggression. We upheld human right and the universal obligation to refugees. It helps now, and gives hope for peace.

I wish all people peace and happiness. No wars, today or forever. Unfortunately, while most people live peacefully, most of the time and in most places, my beautiful city, Kyiv, is under attack by Russian bombers. Just before the interview, I heard another distant sound of explosions from windows. Sirens howl several times a day, over the last few days. Russian aggression causes the deaths of hundreds of people, including children. Many are injured. Thousands are injured.

All males aged 18-60 are prohibited from moving abroad and called to the war effort. War Resisters’ International strongly criticized this decision of Ukrainian government to prohibit all male citizens in age 18 to 60 to leave the country and demanded a withdrawal of these decisions.

I admire massive antiwar rallies in Russia, courageous peaceful citizens who nonviolently oppose Putin’s war machine under threats of arrest and punishment. Our Russian friends, the conscientious objection movement, are also members of European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. They condemn the Russian military aggression, call on Russia to end it, and urge all recruits not to serve in the military, to apply for civilian service, or to be exempted on medical grounds.

There are also peace rallies held around the globe in support of Ukraine’s peace process. Berlin has half a million people protesting against war. Antiwar actions are taking place in France, Italy, and France. Our Japanese Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, Gensuikyo, responded to Putin’s nuclear threats with protest rallies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I invite you to search the website for antiwar events from around the world and in the United States. WorldBeyondWar.org, to participate in the global day of action to stop the war in Ukraine on March 6 under a slogan, “Russian troops out. No NATO expansion,” organized by CodePink and other peace groups.

It is shameful that Russia and Ukraine failed to reach a ceasefire agreement and failed to agree to humanitarian corridors for civilian evacuation. Negotiations between the Ukraine and Russia didn’t achieve a ceasefire. Putin needs to approve the Crimea being part of Russia, the neutral status for Ukraine, denazification, and demilitarization. This is in violation of international law. He told Macron. We gave up on Putin’s demands. Because of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the Ukrainian delegation was willing to discuss only ceasefires with Russian troops and their withdrawal from Ukraine. The Ukrainian army continued to bombard Donetsk, while Russia bombarded Kharkiv. Both Russia and Ukraine are belligerent and will not settle down. Putin and Zelensky need to engage in peace negotiations seriously and in good faith, as responsible politicians and representatives for the people, on the basis that there is common interest and not fighting for exclusive positions. I hope that there is a —

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, Yurii, Yurii Sheliazhenko, I wanted to ask you — you mentioned President Zelensky. He’s being hailed in many of the Western media as a hero since the invasion. What do you think of President Zelensky’s handling of this crisis?

YURII SHELIAZHENKO:President Zelensky has completely surrendered to the war machine. He seeks a military solution and fails to call Putin to ask him to stop the war.

I hope that, with the help and support of all people around the world, telling the truth to power and demanding to stop shooting, starting to talk, helping those who need it, and investing in peace culture and education for nonviolent citizens, we could build a better future without borders and armies, a world where truth is great power, embracing both East and West. Nonviolence is a better and more progressive tool for global governance, social, and environmental justice.

The illusions that systemic violence and war are the panacea for all social problems are false. As a result of the conflict over Ukraine between the United States of America and Russia, the sanctions the West and the East impose on each other may be weaker but will not break the global market of ideas and labor, goods, and finance. The global market will find a way for it to satisfy its demand for global government. The question is: What kind of civilized and democratic global government will it be in the future?

And military alliances’ aim to uphold absolute sovereignty are promoting despotism rather than democracy. When NATO members provide military aid to support sovereignty of Ukrainian government, or when Russia sends troops to fight for self-proclaimed sovereignty of Donetsk and Luhansk separatists, you should remember that unchecked sovereignty means bloodshed, and sovereignty is — sovereignty is definitely not democratic value. All democracies were born out of resistance to bloodthirsty sovereigns, collective and individual. The West’s war profiteers pose the same threat as the East’s authoritarian rulers. Their attempts to rule the Earth and divide it are essentially identical. NATOshould take a step back from the conflict in Ukraine, which has been escalated by its support for war effort and aspirations to be a member of the Ukrainian government. Idealistically, NATOshould dissolve or be transformed into an alliance for disarmament rather than a military alliance. And, of course —

AMY GOODMAN:Yurii, let me ask you a question. This word just came in. Zelensky just spoke by video to the European Parliament. They gave him a standing ovation after, and the European Parliament has just approved Ukraine’s application to join the European Union. What was your reaction to that?

YURII SHELIAZHENKO:I am proud that my country is part of the alliance of Western democracies, European Union. This peaceful union is a great thing. I hope that peace will prevail in the future. Unfortunately, both the European Union and Ukraine have the same problem of militarization. And it looks like a dystopian Ministry of Peace in Orwell’s novel 1984While the European peace facility provides military support to Ukraine, there is virtually no assistance for a nonviolent solution to the current crisis or demilitarization. Of course, I hope Ukraine is part of Europe. Ukraine is a democratic country. It is great that Ukraine has applied to the European Union. However, I believe that this consolidation of West shouldn’t be against the East. East and West should work together to find peaceful reconciliation. They should also pursue global governance and unity for all peoples around the world, without borders or armies. This consolidation of West should never lead to war against East. East and West should be friends, live peacefully, and demilitarized. And of course, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is one of the venues of total demilitarization that are urgently needed.

We now have an archaic governance problem based on sovereignty of national-states. When, for example — when Ukraine prohibits many citizens to participate in public life speaking Russian, it seems like normal. It seems like sovereignty. It is not. It is not justified to invade and use military aggression as Putin claims. However, it is wrong. The West should always remind Ukraine that human right is a fundamental value. Freedom of expression and linguistic rights matter. Also, it is important for Ukraine to have representation in political life of pro-Russian and Russian-speaking people. The oppression of culture in Ukraine by our neighbor and their diaspora will, of course, infuriate Kremlin. It’s a rage. This crisis should be deescalated and not escalated. This historic moment when Ukraine was recognised as a European nation should not serve as a prelude to opposition, military opposition between Europe and Russia. I hope Russia will follow the Ukrainian military forces out of Ukraine and join the European Union. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other regional allies will also be joining the European Union. Perpetual PeaceYou know what you have in mind? A plan of Immanuel Kant for —

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, Yurii, Yurii Sheliazhenko, I wanted to ask you — in terms of the issue of deescalating the situation and seeking to achieve peace, Ukraine has requested a no-fly zone over certain areas of Ukraine. This would have to be enforced by both the United States and the European Union militaries. How do you feel about the issue of a request for a no fly zone over Ukraine?

YURII SHELIAZHENKO:It is continuation of the line to escalation to engage whole West, united military aspect, against Russia. Putin has already responded with nuclear threats to this, because he is furious because he is scared.

Now, we need to remain calm. We must think rationally. We should unite, but not to escalate conflict or give military response. We should work together to find a peaceful solution to conflict. This includes negotiations between Putin and Zelensky (presidents of Russia, Ukraine), and between Biden and Putin between the United States of America and Russia. Because people start war when they lose hope in the future, peace talks and things about the future are key. Today, we need to regain our faith in the future. There is a peace culture that is developing all over the world. We also have an archaic culture that is violent, structural violence, and cultural violence. The majority of people aren’t trying to be demons or angels. They are simply drifting between cultures of violence and culture of peace.

AMY GOODMAN:Yurii, before we leave, we wanted to ask you a simple question. Since you are in Kyiv the military convoy is just outside Kyiv: Are your plans to leave? We have heard that half a million Ukrainians have attempted to leave. Or are your plans to stay put?

YURII SHELIAZHENKO:As I mentioned, there are no safe humanitarian corridors that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to for civilians to be evacuated. It is one of the failures in negotiations. As I mentioned, our government believes that all males should be involved in war efforts and blatantly violates the human right to conscientious object to military service. It is impossible for pacifists not to flee. Therefore, I support peaceful Ukraine here and hope that this polarized, militarized global will not cause the destruction of peaceful Ukraine.

AMY GOODMAN:We want to thank Yurii Sheliazhenko for being with us. Yes, males aged between 18 and 60 cannot leave Ukraine. Yurii is the executive secretary for the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement and a board member of European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. He is also a member of World’s board of directors. BEYONDResearch associates and war at KROKUniversity of Kyiv in Ukraine

We will be looking at the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine. We’ll be joined by Andrew Cockburn of Harper’sTimothy Snyder, Yale University professor and magazine editor. Stay with us.

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AMY GOODMAN: “Try to Remember,” Harry Belafonte. Today, he turns 95 years old. Happy Birthday Harry! Want to see our full gallery? interviewsYou can find out more about Harry Belafonte and his work at democracynow.org.