This is the text of the letter handed yesterday to the Russian Ambassador in Malta by civil society activists who protested in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian community living in Malta.

25 February 2022

H.E. Andrei Lopukhov
Ambassador of the Russian Federation
“Ariel House”, 25,
Triq Antonio Schembri
Il-Kappara
San Ġwann SGN 4239

Re: The Russian invasion of Ukraine

Your Excellency,

We write to you with sadness and indignation regarding the action taken by the authorities and the military forces in your country, who, in the last few hours, without any provocation or justification whatsoever, have invaded Russia’s sovereign neighbouring country, Ukraine.

This initiative is clearly in breach of international law. The victims of this affront are ordinary persons – innocent children, women and men who are blameless but who are paying for the violence of this invasion with their blood and their lives.

This invasion brings to our continent violence and war at a level that we have not witnessed since World War II. That world conflict was brought to an end especially thanks to the sacrifice of the Russian people and the Russian military who paid so dearly to bring back peace after the Nazi and Fascist aggression.

This invasion of Ukraine carries the biggest threat in decades of the use of nuclear armament and the consequent destruction that this would entail, including the destruction of human life as we know it.

It is for these reasons that we appeal to the Russian authorities to immediately call back their forces to Russia and leave Ukraine, and to return to dialogue and reciprocal respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of their neighbours.

In this moment, we stand here in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as the victim of this illegal and violent aggression.

In this moment, we also salute the Russian people, who continue to enjoy our respect and love. We know that this aggression is the result of the intentions and actions of cruel and ambitious leaders, and not of a whole people that has nothing to do with this violence. Despite what their leaders have done, we feel no hatred whatsoever towards any Russian, including those who like you, have made their home temporarily or permanently among us.

Violence, aggression and war separate us from each other, bring hardship and misery, hate and misunderstanding, pain and death. The peace we have enjoyed since in Malta, thirty-three years ago, the end of the Cold War was declared, has brought prosperity and peace of mind to the whole world, including Russia itself.

In light of this, we appeal to you to bring to the attention of your government and armed forces this message from Maltese of good will, so that the aggression can be immediately ended and Russia can once again choose the road of peace.

Yours respectfully,

Repubblika
The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation
SOS Malta
OASI Foundation
PEN Malta
Prisma Malta
Anti-Poverty Forum Malta (A network of 17 local organisations)