Stop The War!

End Russian aggression!

Solidarity with the workers and minorities of Ukraine!

Labour, Plaid Cymru and trade union delegation arrives in Kyiv on a fact-finding visit to hear the voices of Ukrainian workers, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities and human rights defenders.

A delegation arrives in Kyiv today, led by two members of the Welsh Senedd: Michael Antoniw MS and Adam Price MS, leader of Plaid Cymru.

The aim of the delegation, which includes prominent UK trade union leaders, academics and journalists, is to do what no politicians visiting the country have so far done: to express direct, cross-border solidarity from the UK working class to the Ukrainian working class.

With the threat of war rising, there is a concerted campaign of disinformation against Ukraine in the West, some of it aimed at influencing the progressive movements who have traditionally, and correctly, opposed Western military adventures in the Middle East.

To separate truth from propaganda, the delegation will hear evidence from workers from the Donbas in the East of Ukraine, independent trade unions and progressive civil society groups in Kyiv, as well as MPs, academics and territorial defence units training to resist aggression.

The delegation also includes ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan, NUM general secretary Chris Kitchen, former Labour MEP Julie Ward, left-wing journalist Paul Mason, and Greenwich University economist Yuliya Yurchenko.

Mr Antoniw said:

‘In too many of the discussions about the situation in Ukraine it is the people themselves who are being bypassed. We want to listen to what the Ukrainian people say and to show our solidarity with them. We stand by them and their right to determine their own future and to defend their country from Russian aggression and imperialism.’

Mr Price said:

The more the Ukrainian people are threatened by Russian aggression and imperialism the more urgent it becomes for socialists, democrats and internationalists to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them – in defence of their right to national self determination and in defiance of Putin’s warmongering. They shall not pass! вони не пройдуть

The visit is significant because all the participants are activists in the anti-war left in Britain, and in the case of Mr Antoniw and Mr Mason have participated actively in the Labour left under Jeremy Corbyn.

The group intends to report back to grassroots organisations in Britain, countering the disinformation campaign being waged by the Kremlin. The initiative has been organised in a personal capacity by all concerned.

The presence of two leading Welsh lawmakers reflects the historic ties between Wales and Ukraine, going back to the foundation of Donetsk by Welsh migrants in the 19^th century, and the presence of a Ukrainian diaspora in today’s former mining communities.

The delegation will be available for interview while in Ukraine and on return.

With 14,000 dead in Ukraine's conflict let's defuse, de-escalate and negotiate - a@message from Kyiv pic.twitter.com/PSvVJM1UHP

— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) February 20, 2022

Ukraine Solidarity Campaign

Click here to subscribe to ESSF newsletters in English and/or French.