The Veterans For Peace Ukraine Working Group was an attempt by dozens of members of Veterans For Peace to “seek to promote a just, moral, and legal resolution to Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine.”

While our group initially included nearly half of the VFP National Board and the Executive Director, we were effectively banned by a majority of the National Board from even using the name “Veterans For Peace” in our efforts. After a few webinars, statements, successful fundraising, and intense VFP National Board meetings, we surrendered to the majority. Most of us no longer associate with VFP.

These statements and videos are presented here, on the Courage to Resist website, for archival purposes only. They originally were published at now closed vfpukraine.org. It is our belief that Veterans For Peace continues to embrace a Russia-centered view on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Veterans For Peace Ukraine Working Group Statement of Purpose

The Veterans For Peace Ukraine Working Group (in formation) seeks to promote a just, moral, and legal resolution to Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine by:

  • Amplifying progressive Ukrainian-centric perspectives on the war.
  • Providing material aid to the victims of the war.
  • Promoting a progressive post-war reconstruction without austerity measures.
  • Advocating for a secure and peaceful post-war coexistence between all parties involved.
  • Acknowledging that “Russia out of Ukraine” is the most direct route to peace.

Veterans For Peace Statement: On Ukraine, 21 June 2022

“Veterans For Peace (VFP) unequivocally condemns Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine…. Veterans For Peace maintains that the people of Ukraine have the right to self determination and to lead their own struggle for national liberation… War resisters from every nation deserve support and safe refuge.”

Russia Out of Ukraine

In order to bring about a genuine and lasting peace as soon as possible, we call on the Russian Federation to unconditionally leave the internationally recognized borders of the sovereign nation of Ukraine, a founding member of the United Nations since 1945.

We join the 144 Member States of the United Nations that reiterated the demand that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine and called for a cessation of hostilities” during the UN’s 11th emergency special session, 23 Feb 2023. Veterans For Peace holds a permanent Non-Governmental Organization seat at the United Nations.

Following the exit of Russian forces from Ukraine, we hope for a process of restorative justice and restitution for the untold suffering of tens of millions of Ukrainians as a step towards a lasting peace.

A progressive reconstruction plan will be needed to rebuild Ukraine, one free of neoliberal austerity requirements imposed on the people of Ukraine.

The “Missing Peace Slogan”

VFP has opposed US imperialism since our organization’s founding in 1986, and today in our self-defined role as a global military veterans organization, we are called upon to oppose Russian imperialism, if for moral consistency alone.

We encourage all anti-war and peace organizations to include the slogan “Russia Out of Ukraine,” or similar formulation, when advocating for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine. We believe it is morally insufficient to assume or presume that desired action when declaring “Peace in Ukraine” as an abstract idea. Otherwise, we are concerned that peace advocacy may be reasonably viewed as beneficial to, or even in the service of, Russia’s war effort.