‘As the war machine of imperialism, NATO is as responsible for the war as Russia’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The Unity for Democracy (DİB) released a written statement on the fourth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine yesterday (February 27).

Emphasizing that the war started "for imperialist interests", the DİB said, "While the lives of peoples are falling apart, warmongers see it as a chance." Recalling that it is also against the invasion of Iraq, Yemen and Syria, the DİB has said, "We are against the invasion of Ukraine."

"We are once again faced with a war fought for imperialist interests to dominate the energy and oil sources. In a region of the world, which is our shared home, people are killed and forced to migrate while other living beings and nature are being destroyed," the Unity has noted.

The DİB has said, "We know that wars lead to humanitarian, social, economic and ecological destruction and the price of wars is paid by women, laborers and poor people the most." Expressing its "demand for peace in our country and all parts of the world," the DİB has stated:

"We will not turn a blind eye to the destruction of the world for the interests of imperialist states. We raise our voice so that Russia, which has caused bloodshed in the region, abandons its policy of invasion and war and peoples can determine their own future themselves."

Referring to the United States of America (USA) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) within this context, the DİB has said:

"The USA, trying to push Russia by massing arms in Ukraine and financing Neo-Nazis, who massacre the people, and the NATO, the war machine of imperialism insistently desired to be extended by not being dissolved after the Cold War, are as responsible for the war as Russia.

We declare that we side and solidarize with not the imperialists or collaborating states, but with the people of Ukraine under bombardment, with the anti-war people of Russia who take to the streets for peace and with everyone who raises the struggle for peace, democracy and fraternity in Turkey and the world.

What happened?

Earlier on February 24, explosions were reported in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyiv, after Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbas region.

Tensions had started escalating late last year when Ukraine, the US and its allies accused Russia of amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine. They claimed Russia was preparing to invade its western neighbor, which was consistently rejected by Moscow.

Defying threats of sanctions by the West, Moscow officially recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states earlier this week, followed by the start of a military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

President Vladimir Putin said the operation aims to protect people "subjected to genocide" by Kyiv and to "demilitarize and de-Nazify" Ukraine, while calling on the Ukrainian army to lay down its arms.

CLICK - bianet news on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

In the face of this invasion, protest demonstrations are held both on the streets and in front of the embassies of Russia in several countries such as the US, Mexico, Chile, Italy, Britain, Georgia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Spain, Germany, Lebanon, the Netherlands and Greece.

As reported by Novaya, 1,816 people were taken into custody during the anti-war protests in several cities in Russia a day after the invasion. (RT/SD)