A group of concerned British MPs, activists, and public figures are sounding the alarm about the “reckless escalation” of the war in Ukraine by the UK and US. In a joint letter, they warn that the conflict is rapidly spiraling towards an all-out military confrontation between Russia and NATO, with the risk of nuclear war becoming increasingly real. The signatories, which include Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn, as well as musician Brian Eno, are urging US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to immediately halt the escalation and pursue diplomatic talks with Russia and Ukraine to negotiate an end to the devastating war.
Hundreds of Thousands Killed as War Rages On
The plea for diplomacy comes amid a dramatic intensification in the fighting, which has already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands. According to sources close to the Ukrainian government, Russia recently launched intercontinental missiles into southern Ukraine in retaliation for British-made Storm Shadow missiles fired into Kursk and US-supplied ATACMS used to strike targets in Bryansk. The tit-for-tat attacks have raised fears of the war expanding beyond Ukraine’s borders.
MPs: UK Must Take Responsibility for “Terrible Consequences”
“The British government has to take responsibility for its actions and these terrible consequences,” the letter states. “With hundreds of thousands already killed and injured, securing an end to this horrific conflict is crucial. We call on Joe Biden and Keir Starmer to halt this escalation and secure talks with Russia and Ukraine. Diplomacy and dialogue, not military escalation, are the only viable paths to a peaceful settlement in the region.”
Claims of Putin’s Isolation Disputed
The signatories challenge the notion put forward by some Western leaders and commentators that Russian President Vladimir Putin is an “isolated dictator” who can be defeated militarily. They point to the substantial military and economic support Russia is receiving from countries like Iran, North Korea, and China as evidence that Moscow is far from alone in this fight.
“Russia is receiving huge shipments of military supplies from Iran and North Korea, and the latter has 10,000 troops engaged in the war. There is open diplomatic and economic support from China, which is supplying Russia with electronic components that are being converted to military use.”
– Letter excerpt
The letter argues that Russia and China are pushing for a “new world order” in which repressive nations dominate, and that a Russian victory in Ukraine would “pave the way for future wars of aggression.” However, some critics have countered that the West’s slow and piecemeal support for Ukraine in the early stages of the invasion emboldened Russia and made a wider conflict more likely.
Trusting Russia to Honor Peace Agreements
The path to a negotiated settlement is further complicated by Russia’s long history of violating international agreements, including the Budapest Memorandum that guaranteed Ukraine’s sovereignty and the Minsk accords aimed at ending the conflict in the Donbas region. Skeptics question whether any deal struck with Putin would be worth the paper it’s written on.
“Given Russia’s long history of breaking agreements that it signs – such as the Budapest memorandum and the Minsk accords – who could trust it to honour any future agreements?”
– Laurie Farnum, letter to the editor
Despite the obstacles, the signatories of the letter insist that diplomacy is the only way out of the current impasse. They are urging the US and UK to take the lead in de-escalating the conflict and bringing all parties to the negotiating table, with the goal of hammering out a durable peace agreement that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty while addressing Russia’s security concerns. Failure to do so, they warn, risks a catastrophic war that could engulf the entire continent.
Anti-War Voices Demand Immediate Ceasefire
As the fighting intensifies and the risk of a wider war grows, anti-war activists are amplifying their calls for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations. Groups like the Stop the War Coalition, which organized mass demonstrations against the Iraq War, are planning protests to pressure the US and UK governments to prioritize diplomacy over escalation.
“The path we are on leads to unimaginable horror and suffering for all sides in this conflict,” said one organizer, who asked not to be named. “We need our leaders to step back from the brink and do everything in their power to end this war before it’s too late. Diplomacy is the only sane choice.”
Whether those calls will be heeded remains to be seen, as both Russia and the West appear determined to press their advantage on the battlefield. But with hundreds of thousands of lives already lost and the specter of nuclear annihilation looming over the continent, the stakes could not be higher. For the signatories of the letter and millions around the world praying for peace, the urgent plea is clear: talk, don’t fight; jaw jaw, not war war.
