A RHETORICAL call to both sides to stop the war is meaningless, as it puts both the aggressor and the victim on the same scale. Ukraine is defending, not attacking. The ground for the international sanctions was Russia’s violation of international law and mass murder of civilians by the Russian invaders. According to the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine, 121 children have been killed by Russian invaders till March 23, with 168 injured.

In this context, why are people concerned about doing business with Russia, but not about the war and the killings of children by Russia? Is this approach a sign of their millennial wisdom or something opposite?

We are convinced that wisdom by definition cannot be based on mercantilism; it cannot ignore the killing of children.

If Pakistan condemns Russia’s aggression, would it mean the country is joining a definite geopolitical bloc? No. If both A and B condemn the killing of children, it does not automatically make them members of the same bloc. That just makes them equally humane.

To explain the Russian aggression against Ukraine, some ‘experts’ make references to false geopolitical considerations regarding ‘justified’ security concerns of Moscow. Unbiased experts will never believe that Ukraine has ever possessed a threat to Russia.

Finally, has Russian aggression against Ukraine enhanced the global security and security of Russia itself, or has it done something to the contrary? The answer is clear.

The Russian aggression has dramatically eroded regional and global security as it was wrong, criminal idea in its essence, which in reality has nothing to do with the strengthening of the security, but with the restoration of Russian imperialism.

There are many appeals for peace in Ukraine in the media. Unfortunately, any kind of abstract calls for the diplomatic resolution of the conflict while the war continues are doubtful and useless. Yes, Ukraine strongly supports negotiations and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, but are negotiations possible if the negotiating partner keeps one at gunpoint?

How can Ukraine stop the war if the invading Russian army is on our soil and continues to attack? Should it just stop to resist, and surrender? We won’t do this because we are defending our homes and our families from the invaders.

We are firmly convinced that keeping neutrality, while war crimes are committed and children are killed, is unacceptable because it is a question of both global future as well as human conscience. Human lives are of paramount value to any nation and any religion.

The aggressor must be stopped now. Otherwise, this war could turn into a global catastrophe. We call on Pakistan to support the basic provisions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution of March 2, adopted by 141 countries of the world.

The stance of every country on international peace and security issues does matter. This is especially true in case of a great nuclear power that Pakistan is.

Markiian Chuchuk
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2022