“We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fighting with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretense whatsoever; and this is our testimony to the whole world.”
As Russian troops invade Ukraine, we stand in solidarity and sympathy with all the people of Ukraine who have suffered egregious assaults on their lives, freedoms, and human dignity since 2014. We also stand with the people of Russia and all those in the region whose lives will be torn apart by war. We grieve the loss of life and destruction to our world that war inevitably brings.
We urge President Putin to immediately withdraw all Russian military forces from all areas of Ukraine and to return to the table for diplomatic negotiation to resolve this crisis.
We urge all parties to remain at the negotiating table and to keep lines of communication and dialogue open and active. Diplomacy is the only way this war will end.
We join the international community in condemning these hostile actions and support calls for an immediate cease-fire, the end to hostilities, the protection of civilians, and a negotiated settlement that can bring lasting security to the region. We urge all parties to prevent and respond to all threats against civilians in full compliance with international law.
We urge the United Nations to assert its role to help prevent and halt wars through diplomatic efforts. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also has an important role to play as a diplomatic body in which all parties to the conflict are members. We call on the US government, NATO members, Ukraine, and Russia to urgently work toward ending hostilities, and the removal of all foreign military troops from Ukraine. We urge the creation of new sustainable security arrangements that better address the needs of Europe and effectively prevent war.
We appeal to the international community to ensure that sanctions imposed because of the war do not further harshen the lives of ordinary people in Ukraine, Russia, or the region.
We urge all parties to remain at the negotiating table and to keep lines of communication and dialogue open and active. Diplomacy is the only way this war will end.
For more than 350 years, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has sought a world without war, actively seeking to build peace among nations and address the root causes of violence. As people of faith, we are called to show mercy and compassion to one another, to invite in the stranger, the hungry, and those who are sick. We are also called to uphold justice, advance nonviolent solutions to conflict, and promote peaceful cooperation among all peoples.
We affirm again that war is never the answer. Lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means.
