War in Ukraine

We are in daily contact with our partners in Ukraine to offer them support: advice, moral support, connections, and financial assistance with practical matters. Together with our supporters, backers, and others, we show our solidarity via social media and by participating in meetings, church services, and demonstrations. We share our partners’ stories on our website. 

PAX has also immediately started monitoring the use of weapons and the consequences for civilians. PAX is an expert on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and has extensive expertise on the effects of armed conflict on the environment and living conditions. PAX researchers have already given several interviews in national and international media to share our knowledge. 

PAX is also looking at financial flows in this war and is calling on companies, among others, to stop investing in Russian government bonds and in companies that are largely owned by the Russian government.

PAX has been active in Ukraine since 2014, following the occupation and annexation of Crimea and the occupation of part of Donbas. We work with people in Ukraine on local governance (together with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, VNG), interfaith dialogue and strengthening civil society.

There has been an unprecedentedly swift and unanimous response from around the world. The condemnation within the UN reflects this, and the unity within the EU is unprecedented. The solidarity with Ukraine is heartwarming. Humanitarian aid is pouring in from all sides, and refugees from Ukraine are being welcomed. Many organisations, such as Bellingcat, Amnesty International, but also PAX, are currently investigating the use and impact of weapons. This is important for accountability, when legal responsibilities come into play. PAX regularly publishes these investigations.

Yes, PAX supports targeted economic sanctions because this helps to increase pressure on the Russian government and Russian oligarchs. Sanctions are a means of exerting pressure without entering into direct military confrontation with Russia. But sanctions are not a panacea and also affect Russian citizens who did not ask for this war.

No, PAX is not a pacifist organisation. We originate from a broad movement, in which pacifist movements are also represented. PAX has only expressed understanding or support for military intervention in a few conflicts. These are always difficult decisions, guided by international solidarity, human dignity and, of course, international law.

Ukraine is a sovereign country that has been attacked by Russia. In the case of Ukraine, PAX understands the need to support Ukraine’s self-defence by supplying weapons from other countries. 

PAX views the enthusiasm and speed with which defence budgets are currently being increased with concern. If peace is the goal, then in our view the world should invest primarily in diplomacy, political solutions, peace work, strengthening civil society and the (international) legal order. Increasing defence budgets without a strategy and in a very hasty manner will not lead to world peace. PAX calls on governments to remain calm and to adopt a long-term vision in this discussion. A new arms race will not get us anywhere. A coherent investment in peace and security, based on a political vision focused on peace, will.

PAX understands Ukraine’s desire to join the EU and supports the EU’s unanimous position. In the coming period, the EU must continue to make it clear that this prospect exists, but also that a decision on EU accession cannot be taken hastily. It is good that the EU is welcoming refugees from Ukraine. We hope that this attitude will continue, also when it comes to financial support for humanitarian aid, reconstruction and democratisation processes, both now and for many years to come. 
In parallel with such an intensive process for and with the governments and citizens of Ukraine, PAX believes that the EU should also give extra impetus to the accession process of the countries in the Western Balkans with renewed energy and with additional priority for democratisation.

Negotiate and create “exits” at all levels to prevent further escalation.
Support the ongoing negotiations with expertise, provide the necessary infrastructure and ensure that this support is also provided at the local level in the event of sieges, humanitarian corridors and, in general, wherever dangerous situations arise for civilians.

Provide humanitarian aid where possible
This includes humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees in neighbouring countries, including indirectly through the support of Ukrainian partners with specific knowledge of the local situation. Coordination is essential to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most. 
Monitoring evacuations, particularly from besieged cities 
This monitoring is important because it directly benefits civilians trying to escape and ensures that violators of international humanitarian law can be brought to justice. Ideally, a third party should be involved in monitoring the so-called ‘humanitarian corridors’ to monitor and report on the situation.

Advising based on experiences in Syria 
Unfortunately, the lessons learned in besieged Syria are now also relevant to Ukraine. It is of the utmost importance that these lessons are widely shared and applied. There needs to be more and better data exchange between people with knowledge of sieges and people who are currently (or are at risk of being) besieged (see fi non-paper shared internally by Marjolein for details).

Imposing smart sanctions against Putin and the oligarchs 
Sanctions must be directed against Putin and the oligarchs, not against the entire Russian population. The situation must be viewed from the perspective of people’s safety, and it will not contribute to ending the violence if the Russian population turns against the rest of the world. 

Support data collection and verification
Verified data on damage to the civilian population can counteract the disinformation deployed in this war. Such verified data can also provide evidence for initiatives by, among others, the ICC, the German public prosecutor’s office and the Hoekstra initiative to hold those responsible to account. Organisations such as Airwars, Bellingcat and PAX need organisational and financial support to be able to verify information.

Monitoring the supply of weapons to Ukraine
It remains important to be able to track military aid, even after it has crossed the Ukrainian border. The complexity of the war and the large influx of volunteers make every effort to monitor where weapons end up and how they are used worthwhile. No one wants military support to harm the civilian population, but it is clear that such support, by strengthening the Ukrainian army during this invasion, does contribute to this. 

Monitoring the influx of volunteers
Despite the courage of the volunteers in the armed resistance against the Russian invasion, it is important to realise that they can also cause harm. It is essential that the Ukrainian armed forces exercise command and control over these volunteers in order to prevent violations of international humanitarian law. Supervision can contribute to transparency and accountability, and limit the direct damage caused by the combination of large numbers of volunteers and the influx of weapons. 

Set up an active programme for military defections
Russian violence in Ukraine relies in part on military personnel who are not always motivated to commit violence against the Ukrainian population. This provides an opportunity for a defection campaign against the Russian armed forces. The international community can offer Russian soldiers assistance by providing safe and attractive ways to defect.
Share intelligence with the Ukrainian army and civilian actors in the war
Relevant and timely information sharing is key to protecting civilians in armed conflict. Ensure a coordinated effort by nations and international institutions such as the UN, the OECD, the EU and NATO to inform Ukrainian partners. 

Consider the boomerang effect
We must consider the longer-term consequences of this war now, so that we can focus on mitigating the impact. This applies, for example, to providing guidance to civilian structures, mapping the environmental damage caused by the war and providing psychosocial support. The consequences extend beyond Ukraine, with long-term assistance to refugees and the notion that both Russia and Ukraine supply the entire world with food.

Distributing and enabling security technology
Previous conflicts have taught us that lives can be saved with the help of technology. The humanitarian world has created many tools that are only useful when they are accessible to those who need them most. Access requires communication tools and electricity. The White Flag Protocol, for example, offers ways to ensure this.

PAX has been working with partners in Syria for many years and has seen the negative consequences of agreements on safe havens and humanitarian corridors in that war. We are all too familiar with the consequences of humanitarian corridors involving Russia, for example in Aleppo. PAX has written extensively about this in its Siege Watch project. Practical experience shows that such corridors can only offer real protection if, for example, the ICRC, UN organisations, or in this case the OSCE, support them with robust military escort from, for example, the UN. But this is not currently the case.

There are courageous Russians who speak out against this war, and they are being harshly punished by the Russian regime. Thousands have been arrested or have fled the country, while repression is increasing by the day. Support for these citizens, journalists and activists is of great importance. Just as we must continue to focus our words and actions on the Russian regime and not on the people of Russia.

Yes. All over the world, we see people coming together and taking to the streets. That is non-violent activism or resistance. Citizens can resist and show their solidarity in many different ways. There are impressive examples of Ukrainian citizens blocking tanks.

There is a more elaborate answer here.