Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

“Europe’s fatigue from Ukraine is the aggressor’s greatest ally” – appeal of European intellectuals

Article by: First of December Initiative Group
Source: 1-12.org.ua
Translated by: Alya Shandra

The so-called “Ukraine fatigue” means a fatigue from Europe itself and its principles. Eminent Ukrainian, Czech, Polish, Lithuanian and other intellectuals and civic actors called upon EU politicians and society to not turn a blind eye to Russian crimes in Ukraine and not go back to business as usual with the Kremlin. 

Today, prior to the EU summit, the Ukrainian First of December initiative group made a public appeal addressed to EU leaders. It stresses that forgetting Ukraine, becoming overcome with “Ukraine fatigue” essentially means a fatigue from European founding principles. The moral indifference that it leads to is the root of self-isolation, xenophobia, and populism, which are tearing Europe apart.

Among the 34 signatories are former Presidents of Lithuania and Poland Valdas Adamkus and Aleksander Kwasniewski, former Foreign Ministers of Lithuania, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, journalists and intellectuals. Below is a translation of the appeal, which is also available in Russian and Polish.

Almost every great historical upheaval in Europe was preceded by fatigue. A fatigue from its principles. This rule asserted itself in the 20th century with a special cruelty. Its tragic patterns give no right to remain silent now when uncertainty once again dominates Europe.

Clouds of economic difficulties and social anxiety overshadow the EU’s optimistic perspectives. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from other lands have appeared on its roads.  Terrorism has undermined the peace of once safest locations. For many, common problems have become annoying irritants.

A fatigue from this incessant stream of threats was expected. Yet, it became a danger in itself: fatigue leads to moral indifference, allowing to easily compromise with the truth. 

This is why Europe is being overwhelmed by populism with its simple responses to complex issues. This is why xenophobia and chauvinism emerge as a defense mechanism against foreigners. This explains the growing desire to hide from problems, to avoid additional responsibilities, to lock away in one’s own exhaustion. This is called self-isolation.

Russia’s war against Ukraine, the occupation of Crimea, armed intervention in the Donbas, tens of thousands of victims, 1,500,000 internally displaced refugees are the problems which the average European wants to hide from behind the screen of exhaustion. Daily Russian diversions, provocations, and blackmail no longer appall a portion of the European political circles. They have become accustomed to this war. Routine exhausts compassion; indifference levels the victim with the aggressor.

But Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. The aggression continues.

At the same time, a dramatic battle of the new against the old is taking place in Ukraine, and there no guarantees of a quick victory in this battle, since no European country has had immediately come out victorious from a battle of this sort.

The war [of Russia against Ukraine] drags on, killing people each day, and slowly exhausting the rest. For this reason, Europe’s exhaustion is the aggressor’s strongest ally, who violates world order with arms in hand.

Becoming overcome by “Ukraine fatigue,” turning a blind eye to Russia’s crimes in Ukraine, and returning to business as usual with the Kremlin is starting to seem like an offensively realistic solution. But it will be self-deception. Life has changed in Europe. One of the main reasons behind the change is a resumption of old external aggression against European values, meanings, and ways of life. No attempt to hide behind closed doors will return the previous comfort.

At a time when a united Europe is still trying to regain its foothold, we, representatives of various countries, urge European politicians and society to find the intellectual and moral strength to resist the so-called “Ukraine fatigue” and the temptation of appeasing Russian aggression. This illness will lead to one end: an exhaustion from oneself, from one’s own values, from European founding principles.

We call on all thinking people of our joint European community to show solidarity and to find the strength to stand against the threats of self-isolation, xenophobia, and populism, which will tear Europe apart.

The ethical choice, meaning an adherence to the values which created Europe’s civilization, is the only guideline that can save Europe from errors or cowardice.

This ethical choice should envisage choosing the values of freedom and the rule of law over the immoral compromises of “realpolitik,” solidarity and mutual support over isolation, the vision of building a United Europe over local interests and ambitions.

“Ukraine fatigue” is a metaphor. It also applies to the attitude about the rest of Europe, which, despite its geographical proximity, remains terra incognita  for the nearsighted West. A great deal depends on the countries of this region, on the accountability and effectiveness of their leaderships and the maturity of their societies. But Europe needs to make an effort to discover these “forgotten” European nations.

The ethical choice means including Ukraine in the mental map of Europe. This applies also to Georgia, Moldova, and, eventually, and all of Eastern Europe, whose presence in the European Union must once and for all become a political and spiritual reality.

Europe cannot hide from itself.

Most of all, it needs to guard itself against a fatigue from its own principles, a fatigue from itself.

Let’s not be afraid of the future.  Let’s create it together.

15 September 2016

Signed by:

  • Vytautas Landsbergis, the first Head of the renewed state of Lithuania
  • Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania (1998-2003, 2004-2009)
  • Aleksander Kwasniewski, President of the Republic of Poland (1995-2005)
  • Algirdas Saudargas,Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (1990-1992, 1996-2000)
  • Petras VaitiekūnasMinister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (2006-2008)
  • Audronius Azubalis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lithuanian Republic (2010-2012)
  • Antanas Valionis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lithuanian Republic (2000-2001)
  • Uffe Elleman-Jensen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark (1982-1993)
  • Juri Luik, Minister for Foreign Affairs (1994-1995) and Minister of Defense (1999-2002) of Estonia
  • Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland (1988-1995)
  • Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (2007-2009, 2010-2013)
  • Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Foreign Secretary (1995-1997) and Defence Secretary (1992-1995) of the United Kingdom
  • Adam Michnik, Founder and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper
  • Vyacheslav Briukhovetsky, Honorary President of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, member of the Club of Rome, founding member of the World Economic Forum in Davos, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Ivan Dziuba, former dissident, literary critic, member of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Yevhen Zakharov, former dissident, human rights activist, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Myroslav Marynovych, former dissident, philosopher, human rights activist, Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Volodymyr Panchenko, literary critic, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Myroslav Popovych, philosopher, director of the Ukraine’s Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy, member of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Vadym Skurativskyi, philosopher, culturologist, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Yuri Shcherbak, writer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Ihor Yukhnovskyi, the first Leader of the democratic People’s Rada in the Parliament of Ukraine (1990 – 1994), scientist, member of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, member of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Ivan Vasyunyk, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine (2007-2010), chief of the secretariat of “The First of December” Initiative Group
  • Danylo Lubkivsky, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine (2014)
  • Volodymyr Viatrovych, historian, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance
  • Josyf Zisels, former dissident, head of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities in Ukraine
  • Volodymyr Ohryzko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009)
  • Yuriy Makarov, journalist, writer
  • Olena Styazhkina, historian, writer, member of the Ukrainian PEN-Centre
  • Oksana Zabuzhko, writer
  • Audrius Siaurusevicius, Director General of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television
  • Ramūnas Bogdanas, former advisor to Mr. Vytautas Landsbergis as the first head of state of Lithuania

Результат пошуку зображень за запитом "група першого грудня"

The Initiative Group “First of December” was created on the twentieth anniversary of the referendum for the Independence of Ukraine.  It includes senior national intellectuals: Viacheslav Briukhovetsky, Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, Volodymyr Horbulin, His Eminence Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Ivan Dziuba, Myroslav Marynovych, Myroslav Popovych, Yevhen Sverstiuk, Vadym Skurativsky, Ihor Yukhnovsky, and aims to achieve the establishment of new rules in the country.
Source: 1-12.org.ua
Translated by: Alya Shandra
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts