The news of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops under false and far-fetched pretexts fills our hearts with pain, shame, and indignation.[/i]
The Russian authorities and President Putin personally are repeating the most terrible and shameful mistakes of our past.
When Andrei Sakharov participated in the creation of Soviet thermonuclear weapons, he wanted them to serve as a guarantee that war would be impossible, not as a cover for the irresponsible use of conventional weapons.
What is happening now is not only a terrible tragedy for the peoples of Russia and Ukraine. It is a challenge to the entire world. Humanity is at risk of facing threats to international security not seen since the end of the twentieth century. Betting on force can bring neither peace nor security.
The world community must make every effort to stop the bloodshed.
The Russian authorities must stop their aggression against Ukraine. It is never too late to stop the war. Every life lost in an unjust and senseless massacre is an irreplaceable loss, every life saved is priceless.
We, the citizens of Russia, must do everything in our power to stop the carnage.
Even in these black moments we believe that the peoples of Russia and Ukraine want peace. War is the path to a common abyss. The war must be stopped!