Labour, feminist and environmental groups from across Europe are coming together in Brussels on March 26th-27th, for the Solidarity With Ukraine conference, which calls on Europe to increase its support for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion while also rejecting US President Trump’s claims on Ukrainian resources. 

The conference has been initiated by the European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine and its national affiliates and the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign in England, Wales and Scotland.

Adam Novak, coordinator of the European Network for Solidarity With Ukraine, said: “It’s time for those who understand the Ukrainian people’s suffering and support its heroic resistance to organise their solidarity effort on a much larger scale. The clouds over the country’s future threaten more than at any time since the Russian full-scale invasion began three years ago. ”

The Solidarity With Ukraine conference, will coincide with another important event in Brussels: the March 26th  European Parliament meeting “Solidarity With Ukraine–Reconstruction and Civil Society”, organised by the Left Group of MEPs.

Novak said: “Shocked ordinary decent people can’t believe what’s happening before their eyes regarding Ukraine: there’s Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin scheming to carve up the country and its resources, with Trump actually blaming Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Russian invasion.”

He stressed that “now is definitely not the time for us to get intimidated by the scare tactics of great and powerful thugs. And it’s not the time to just hope that Europe’s divided and often hesitant governments finally manage to provide Ukraine with the aid it has been begging for.

“It is the time to act, to compel our governments to replace their nice words about ‘standing by Ukraine’ with deeds providing genuine support to the Ukrainian people’s resistance to the dismemberment of their country.”

Novak outlined the twin goals of the Solidarity With Ukraine conference:

• To drive home the message that the Trump-Putin scheme will destroy any chance of a just peace for Ukraine or Europe. He underlined: “Ukraine must receive all the help it needs to defend and recover its internationally recognised territory. All Russian troops must leave all of Ukraine.”
• To provide a forum where Ukrainian and European trade union, feminist, environmental, LGBTI+ and democratic rights movements can meet and build initiatives of solidarity and support. 

Novak concluded: “These movements will be indispensable for Ukraine’s socially just reconstruction, just as they have been for its brave resistance and the support given to its millions of internally displaced people.” 

Registration for the conference is free, but donations are requested to cover travel costs of Ukrainian participants, interpretation, etc.

Image: Demonstration in London in solidarity with Ukraine on February 22nd 2025, c/o Labour Hub.