JCP Chair: Russia should withdraw its recognition of 'independence' of Eastern Ukrainian regions

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on February 22 issued a statement titled, "Russia should withdraw its recognition of the 'independence' of Eastern Ukrainian regions and retract its order to send troops". Copies of the document were sent to Russia, Ukraine, and other countries concerned. The full text of the statement is as follows:

Russia should withdraw its recognition of the "independence" of Eastern Ukrainian regions and retract its order to send troops

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo

February 22, 2022

(1)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 (early morning of February 22, JST) recognized two Eastern Ukrainian regions where pro-Russia forces declared independence in 2014 as independent states and signed a presidential order to deploy Russian troops to the regions.

Moscow has taken this action while increasing military pressure by amassing a large number of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border and by conducting military exercises in Belarus, a neighboring country, with nuclear weaponry involved. This is nothing but an action of invasion in violation of the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law stipulating the respect of member states' sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and banning the use of military threat. The JCP strongly condemns this reckless act and urges Russia to immediately withdraw its recognition of the "independence" of the two regions and retract the order to send troops.

(2)

The unilateral recognition of the "independence" and the order to deploy troops not only trample on the Minsk Agreements which were made by stakeholder parties to seek for a peaceful settlement of the Eastern Ukraine problem, but also violate the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2202 (February 2015) reaffirming the "full respect" for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which Russia itself supports. Such actions are a direct attack on international efforts to find a solution based on the Minsk Agreements and the UNSC Resolution however difficult it may be.

It also goes against the principle of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is what the Russia government itself repeatedly committed in the Alma-Ata Declaration (1991), concluded when former Soviet Union countries formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and other relevant international agreements and treaties.

It is totally unacceptable for any country to unilaterally abandon international agreements and its own international commitments and change the status quo under the threat of force.

(3)

President Putin on February 21 in a televised address stressed that Ukraine is an inalienable part of Russia both historically and culturally. With the latest action, Russia attempts to expand its territory in defiance of international law as it did in 2008 when it recognized the "independence" of regions of Georgia as well as in 2014 when it annexed Crimea, a part of Ukraine. This is clearly an act of great power chauvinism and hegemonism. The president argues that Moscow needs to prevent Ukraine from joining the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) as it will pose a serious threat to Russia. However, nothing can justify hegemonic acts in violation of the Charter of the United Nations.

The JCP, as a party that has fought against hegemonic acts, including that of the former Soviet Union, firmly opposes Russia's hegemonism undermining the world's order of peace.

(4)

The JCP urges the international community to severely criticize Russia's reckless moves and accelerate diplomatic and political efforts for a breakthrough of the situation based on international law and the UN Charter stipulating that disputes should be resolved peacefully and in line with the principle of respecting Ukraine's sovereignty.

The Kishida government should call on President Putin to revoke his decisions. The JCP demands that Japan make diplomatic efforts to block any attempt to undermine the international order of peace.