International Solidarity Convoy to Ukraine
The Convoy was presented as a broad initiative to strengthen solidarity with the resistance of the Ukrainian people. The International Socialist League (LIS) will actively participate, reaffirming the internationalist policy that it has maintained since the beginning of the Russian imperialist invasion. Now the task of building begins, between everyone, a great convoy.
ByRuben Tzanoff
The first step has been taken
The International Solidarity Convoy to Ukraine was presented. This is an initiative of the European Solidarity Network with Ukraine (RESU) that germinated in the Catalunya Network and spread to different countries in Europe and some in Latin America, like Argentina and Brazil. Activists from union organizations participated in the virtual presentation, social movements and political forces from different countries, including Ukraine.
A spacious and unitary construction
The Convoy will travel through different cities and capitals of the European Union before entering Ukrainian territory to reach kyiv. The paths are still being defined, but in the first instance they would be: Ruta Sur: will leave Barcelona and pass through France (Perpignan, Lyon), Swiss (Ginebra), Germany and Poland; the Central Route will leave the United Kingdom (London), passing through Belgium (Brussels), Germany and Poland; the Northern Route will leave Norway, passing through Sweden and Poland.
Events will be held along the route, meetings and rallies with the unitary participation of solidarity committees and political forces committed to supporting the Ukrainian people.
Coordinate solidarity from the bases
The Convoy aims to articulate an international effort coordinated from the bases. Your cargo will be made up of medical supplies, electric generators, vehicles and other necessary materials that can be purchased or received as a donation.
Beyond the transportation of logistical and humanitarian aid, The Convoy seeks to become a visible political action that strengthens international solidarity from below, coordinating initiatives, many of which already have their own dynamics and promoting broader participation of popular organizations from different countries.
The political objectives
The initiative is based on the realization that the Ukrainian people will face a new winter under extremely difficult conditions, marked by the destruction of energy infrastructure, hydraulic and transport; bombings against schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods; the repression in the occupied territories and the serious violations of human rights committed during the invasion.
Faced with this situation, We must take a step further with material and humanitarian solidarity. For this reason, the Convoy pursues several political objectives.:
* Reaffirm that the Ukrainian people are not alone and strengthen international solidarity with their resistance.
* Make visible the role of the Ukrainian working class and its union organizations as a fundamental part of the resistance against the invasion.
* Promote broader international coordination between unions, social movements and progressive organizations.
* Recover and strengthen the spirit of international solidarity in the face of war and the advance of the extreme right, authoritarianism and fascism.
* Raise awareness among new social sectors so that they actively join campaigns to support Ukraine.
A call for solidarity
The Convoy calls for unions at all levels, feminist organizations, environmentalists, LGBTIQ+, humanitarian, social movements, leftist forces, progressives and anti-fascist groups to be part of the mission to kyiv.
Likewise, calls to expand and better coordinate the international solidarity network, provide material resources and turn the Convoy into a visible expression of civil society's commitment to the Ukrainian struggle.
With its own identity
Since the start of the war, numerous convoys have been made to Ukraine, with a brave and supportive attitude. This Convoy is nourished and adds to those experiences, providing its own characteristics.: is internationalist, humanitarian, but also political; It is based on solidarity between workers and other popular sectors, and distances itself from campist positions.
Your organization remembers, in many ways, the format of the Global Sumud Flotilla: an independent and civil coalition that, based on a basic common objective, is open to participation from different visions to multiply international solidarity.
The LIS joins the Convoy
Comrades of the International Socialist League (LIS) we will actively participate, integrating the Convoy and promoting its construction in each country. We will do so by continuing a concrete practice of internationalism that we already expressed in solidarity missions to the Sahrawi camps in Tindouf., to Nicaragua in defense of democratic rights, to Iraq in support of the Palestinian cause and Lebanon, together with the youth facing occupation and Zionist normalization.
In relation to Ukraine, It will be the continuity of the road map drawn up from the first day of the invasion of Russian imperialism, in support of the Ukrainian people and our comrades of the Ukrainian Socialist League (LSU). Along that path we have had close companions who have fallen on the front lines.; we have also promoted campaigns, international actions including trips to kyiv and other unitary actions such as the Porto Alegre Anti-Fascist Forum in which the MST of Argentina and the Socialist Revolution of Brazil participated.
Always with the same policy: for the victory of the resistance and the defeat of the invasion of Russian imperialism, recognizing Ukraine's right to defend itself with all military means at its disposal.
For a just peace, no Trump-Putin agreements behind the backs of the Ukrainian people. Nor impositions of Western imperialism - USA. UU., EU and NATO—with their expansionist policies, of oppression and plunder in Eastern Europe. Since political independence from the Zelensky government, oligarchs and far-right expressions.
For the expulsion of Russian troops from Ukraine, with the perspective of a just peace and a democratic society based on the right to self-determination of all peoples in Ukraine.
You may also interest you: “Document on Ukraine”.
Now, hands to work
A journey of three thousand kilometers begins with a single step. That step has already been taken: The Convoy was presented, the website was launched1 and their social networks on Instagram and Facebook as tools to inform themselves, collaborate, contribute resources and join as a volunteer.
From now on, the task is to strengthen a construction that has already begun. That means planning activities, provide political and material support, and add volunteers for the multiple tasks that this initiative demands.
We have to promote unitary actions in each country where the Convoy will pass and also in all cities where possible. Y, Of course, in every place in the world where there is support for the just cause of the Ukrainian people.
The first appointment will be 19 of August, World Humanitarian Day, established by the UN to recognize the work of those who provide aid in crisis situations and remember deceased humanitarian workers. That day, actions will be carried out in different countries to spread the Convoy and expand international solidarity..
Let's get to work to make the International Aid Convoy to Ukraine a cause shared by thousands of activists, organizations and workers around the world.
