Over 300 participants from 32 countries assembled in Vienna, Austria on June 9 - 11, 2023 to share their desire for peace and to plan for a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War, now in its second devastating year. Learn more about the Vienna Peace Summit and the actions to follow it below.
Declaration from International Summit for Peace in Ukraine (Vienna, Austria)
Peace by peaceful means. Ceasefire and negotiations now! (June 11, 2023)
We, the organizers of the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine, call on leaders in all countries to act in support of an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
We are a broad and politically diverse coalition that represents peace movements and civil society, including people of faith in many countries. We are firmly united in our belief that war is a crime against humanity and there is no military solution to the current crisis.
We are deeply alarmed and saddened by the war. Hundreds of thousands have been killed and wounded and millions have been displaced and traumatized. Cities and villages across Ukraine and the natural environment have been shattered.
Far greater death and suffering may yet ensue if the conflict escalates to the use of nuclear weapons, a risk that is higher today than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis.
We condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The institutions established to ensure peace and security in Europe fell short, and the failure of diplomacy led to war. Now diplomacy is urgently needed to end the war before it destroys Ukraine and endangers humanity.
The path to peace must be based on the principles of common security, respect for international human rights and self determination of all communities.
We support all negotiations that stand for the logic of peace instead of the illogic of war.
We affirm our support for Ukrainian civil society who are defending their rights. We commit ourselves to strengthening the dialogue with those in Russia and Belarus who are putting their lives at risk opposing war and protecting democracy.
We call on civil society in all countries to join us in a week of global mobilization (Saturday 30th September - Sunday 8th October 2023) for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations to end this war.
Vienna, June 11th 2023
“We must all do our share, that we may be equal to the task of peace.” - Albert Einstein
Videos from Vienna Peace Summit
Links, Podcasts, and Articles
CODEPINK Radio
Summit Debrief w/ Medea Benjamin, co-founder, CODEPINK & Ann Wright, Board Member, Veterans for Peace; also Peace in Ukraine Coalition presentation by Dan Kovalik, journalist & human rights lawyer, on his recent trip with Rick Sterling to Moscow & Crimea.
Vienna's International Summit for Peace in Ukraine Issues Global Call to Action
Medea Benjamin. Common Dreams. June 12, 2023
Ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine War Will Take Much Longer Than We Want
Ann Wright. Popular Resistance. June 13, 2023
Summit Speeches by Dr. Yurii Sheliazhenko. Exec. Secretary, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement & Board Member, World Beyond War
Published by Peace and Planet News
Austrian Censorship of Peace Conference is an Outrage
David Swanson, Kathy Kelly, Reuwer & Brad Wolf. Peace & Planet News, Spring 2023 Edition