Today marks the three year anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. According to the Wall Street Journal from last September, over one million have been either killed or wounded in the conflict, making it the deadliest hostilities in Europe since the Second World War. The front lines have been mostly stable since November, 2022, though Russia has made small gains in the southeast of the country. Various attempts at reaching a peace deal have failed, with Ukraine demanding a return to its pre-2014 borders which would include Crimea, and Russia demanding territories in the southeast and a guarantee Ukraine will never join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has restarted direct talks with Russia to negotiate a peace deal, though to this point those talks have excluded both Ukraine and the wider European community. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet by the end of this month, though U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has cautioned that Ukraine’s goal of joining NATO was “unrealistic” and its hope of reclaiming all its territory was an “‘illusionary goal,’” according to Reuters.
Peace in Ukraine would be a tremendous achievement, but we must insist it not be a hollow peace which leaves out the voices of Ukrainians and Europeans. The danger to be avoided is a peace which includes no mechanisms for reconciliation, accountability, a just settlement under international law, and which offers little to no hope the peace will be lasting. One reason Trump may be pushing for peace is that an end to the fighting would allow the U.S. to access Ukraine’s ample natural resources, something both he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have discussed in their own meetings. These resources are prized for their importance in manufacturing advanced semiconductor chips and other technologies, and would make the global supply of chips less dependent on Taiwan’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. While this would undoubtedly place the Taiwanese at a greater threat of invasion from the mainland, Trump’s “America First” policies would likely dictate the resulting change in production, manufacturing, and distribution of the resources would make the world more dependent on Washington, rather than Taipei.
We must continue to insist, then, that there can be no peace thrust upon the Ukrainian people who have suffered so much injustice over the past three years. Should the above peace deal come to pass, it would be another example of might makes right and that, as the novelist David Mitchell put it, “The weak are meat, and the strong do eat.” It would be unjust, immoral, and ultimately unworkable. Whatever deal is reached must include those whom it will affect in its design. This would include Ukrainians, Europeans, and representatives from all parts of the world who have been impacted in some way by the war. Such an outcome is, sadly, a bleak possibility. The United Nations (U.N.) as it is currently structured and empowered has been rendered into almost nothing more than a soapbox from which representatives of belligerent states can push their propagandic narratives.
So, then, what is to be done?
Our co-founder, Colombe Cahen-Salvador is currently running to be the next U.N. Secretary-General. If in office, she would passionately fight for the reforms the global community desperately need, including the means of ending and avoiding wars. She would push our Survival Bill, which calls for the abolition of the veto power of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC)--the U.S. United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia. The veto has, and has been used, to halt any progress the global community has attempted to make which has gone against the perceived interests of those five nations. Millions have died as a result of wars which could have been stopped had the world had the means to push back against aggression. Additionally, Colombe would push for expanding the jurisdictions of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court to be compulsory and enforceable on all U.N. member states. She would also advance a mutual defense pact amongst the world’s democracies which could effectively deter and respond to warmongering. Lastly, Colombe would demand all nations sign on to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Beyond this campaign, there is much else to be done.
March 15th, 2025 will see our Freedom Marathon event held in Milan, Italy. The panels and happenings will be recorded, so we encourage everyone reading this to view, share, and promote the content via their own social media channels. Furthermore, anyone can reach out regarding our Freedom Emergency campaign which can be a declaration in your city, province, or country. Lastly, we are a global political movement and party. If you would like to help us build the party, either globally or in your country, and or run for elected office under the Atlas banner we would love to have you join the team. Resistance and positive change are difficult, but possible. History shows coalitions can come seemingly out of nowhere and upend the status quo. This is what we are aiming for, and we believe the above routes offer a great starting point for doing just that. We hope you will come along.
By Trent Trepanier
Photo: NPR
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