We refute the idea that NATO is a defensive alliance, and believe its record in Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Libya over the last generation, not to mention the US-British attack on Iraq, clearly proves otherwise.

It believes NATO should call a halt to its eastward expansion and commit to a new security deal for Europe which meets the needs of all states and peoples. Stop the War believes that Russia and Ukraine should reach a diplomatic settlement of the tensions between them, on the basis of the Minsk-2 agreement already signed by both states. It has also declared that Ukraine has a “sovereign right” to join NATO, when no such right exists to join it or any other military alliance.īritain needs to change its policy, and start working for peace, not confrontation. Instead, the British government has sent arms to Ukraine and deployed further troops to Eastern Europe, moves which serve no purpose other than inflaming tensions and indicating disdain for Russian concerns. Indeed, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has even accused those seeking a peaceful settlement of preparing “another Munich.” Unlike the French and German governments, it has advanced no proposals for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and has contributed only sabre-rattling. The British government has talked up the threat of war continually, to the point where the Ukraine government has asked it to stop.

In taking this position we do not endorse the nature or conduct of either the Russian or Ukrainian regimes. Our focus is on the policies of the British government which have poured oil on the fire throughout this episode. Stop the War opposes any war over Ukraine, and believes the crisis should be settled on a basis which recognises the right of the Ukrainian people to self-determination and addresses Russia’s security concerns.

Katie webber northeastern university