Version imprimableFor more than three years, the Ukrainian people have been heroically resisting Russia’s full-scale occupation and terrorist war, defending not only their freedom, independence and territorial integrity, but also the democratic values of the entire civilised world – the right to life, the right to work, the right to peace.
Every day, people are dying, the number of wounded is growing, and cities and villages are being destroyed. What is happening is madness that needs to be stopped decisively.
However, the war is not only testing the resilience of the Ukrainian people, but is also exacerbating economic difficulties and social problems and threatening the lives of every Ukrainian. Rocket attacks and bombardment of all regions of the country have forced mass migration of Ukrainians, with 6.5 to 8 million people leaving the country and more than 3 million forcibly deported to Russia, including children from the occupied territories. During the war, tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens were killed, about 400,000 were injured or disabled, more than 65,000 went missing, and several thousand are in Russian captivity. Economic losses from the war amount to about $524 billion. The destruction of industry, infrastructure, humanitarian and social facilities has led to the loss of more than 5 million jobs. As a result, unemployment, labour migration and social inequality are on the rise. Calls by some politicians to reduce international financial assistance to Ukraine and to stop military cooperation until peace is achieved provoke a negative reaction from citizens and trade unionists, as this threatens not only to increase human casualties but also to cause economic decline and massive destruction of businesses and critical sectors of the economy. It also leads to the curtailment of state social protection programmes and the inability to fully rebuild the infrastructure without which normal life for the Ukrainians will be impossible.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has stated that the war could end in 2025 if international pressure on Russia is increased and effective security guarantees are provided to Ukraine. The international community must realise that not only Ukraine’s victory, but also the stability of the entire European region depends on the speed of its actions. Everyone in Europe and the world is well aware of this, but they are not doing enough.
We do not need guarantees from Russia. We do not believe them. Security guarantees should come exclusively from partners. We urge the international trade union community to increase pressure on their governments to provide systematic and continuous support to Ukraine so that we are not left alone.
In particular, we urge them to:
• strengthen the international isolation of Russia, guided by the UN General Assembly resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, adopted on 24 February 2025, which was another firm signal of the international community in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and the decisions of the EU and the G7 to increase sanctions pressure on Russia;
• increase economic pressure on the aggressor by imposing sanctions on companies that continue to work for the war. This is especially true for suppliers of components for the Russian military-industrial complex, financial institutions that help to circumvent sanctions, and Russian state-owned companies;
• use the frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to provide financial assistance to Ukraine and direct them to compensate war victims, restore housing, medical facilities, schools and workplaces;
• provide funding for social programmes and infrastructure projects for Ukrainian workers and trade unions. Create a special international fund to support Ukrainian labour migrants and facilitate their return to their homeland;
• enhance the role of trade unions in the international peacekeeping process, in particular in the fight for the reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons. It is also necessary to strengthen the role of trade unions in monitoring the implementation of humanitarian initiatives aimed at helping workers and their families affected by the war;
• initiate international negotiations on the return of all Ukrainian prisoners of war and illegally detained civilians by the aggressor country. International organisations should strengthen monitoring of human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories.
Today, more than ever, international trade union solidarity must become a driving force in the struggle for peace, social justice and sustainable development in Ukraine and the entire democratic world. Only through joint efforts can we protect workers’ rights, achieve decent pay, social protection and equal opportunities for all workers, regardless of their country of residence.
Together we are stronger!
Presidium of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine
Appendix 2 to the Resolution of the FPU Presidium, No P27/10 of 20/03/2025
Source: Ukraine Solidarity Campaign.
