Appeal 3 -- Roald Hoffmann
 
An open letter from Nobel Laureates

The undersigned Nobel laureates voice their support for the Ukrainian people and the free and independent state of Ukraine as it faces Russian aggression.

Recalling the infamous attacks of Nazi Germany on Poland in 1939 and on the Soviet Union in 1941, and using some similar tricks of feigned provocation, the government of the Russian Federation, led by President Putin, has launched an unprovoked military aggression -- nothing else but a war -- against its neighbor, Ukraine.  We choose our words carefully here, for we do not believe the Russian people had a role in this aggression.

We join in condemning these military actions, and in condemnation of President Putin's essential denial of the legitimacy of Ukraine's existence.

There is always a peaceful way to resolve disputes.  The Russian invasion violates blatantly the United Nations Charter, which says 'All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.'  It ignores the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which obligated Russia and others to respect the sovereignty, independence, and existing borders of Ukraine.

Russia's security concerns (we hear them) can be addressed within the framework of the UN Charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1990 Paris Charter.  To make war, as President Putin and his collaborators have done, is an unwarranted, bloody, and unproductive way to a future.

The Russian invasion will stain for decades the international reputation of the Russian state.  It will pose barriers to its economy and inflict hardships on its population.  The sanctions imposed will restrict the ease of movement of its talented and hardworking people in the world.  Why raise this fence between Russia and the world now?

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers, Russian soldiers, and Ukrainian civilians have died already.  It's so sad, so unnecessary.  We gather in this appeal to call upon the Russian government to stop its invasion of Ukraine, and to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

We respect the calm and the strength of the Ukrainian people.  We are with you.  And our heart goes out to the families and friends of all, Ukrainians and Russians, who have died and been injured.  May peace come to this piece of our beautiful world.