[Blog] 2025: Put an end to wars - in Ukraine, in Palestine/Gaza, in Sudan

Put a stop to the killing, put a stop to genocide, put a stop to famine and destruction.

For peace on earth, we call for ceasefires. For negotiations on modalities, leading to peace, security, and reconstruction.
The planet is suffering from the extremes of climate change (roasting under extreme heat, freezing cold, intense hurricanes, floods and droughts, impending sea-level rise, etc.). Under such a planetary emergency, there is no time, no justification for anyone to resort to the old style of empire building, of going to war as a tool of political action.

We condemn war “as a tool of political action.” Instead, let us use negotiation and, where necessary, arbitration, instead of missiles, tanks, and bombs, or hostages as “arguments.”

Today, in January 2025, we have 3 wars ongoing in the world. We need 3 negotiation meetings, leading to 3 agreements for peace.
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1. Ukraine

To the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Vladimir Putin, and to the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A call for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Negotiation and a referendum on self-determination to follow, leading to peace, security, and reconstruction.

The centuries-old civilizations of both Russia and Ukraine, the joint faith both countries share, can now lead you to give a lesson/an example to be followed by the rest of the world: stop using weapons and start solving the conflict by negotiations now!
We therefore invite you, Presidents Vladimir and Volodymyr, to meet and jointly start negotiations (with China, the European Union, the UN, or others as facilitators).

Based on the acceptance of the democratically elected government in Ukraine, conduct a referendum on self-determination by the people in Donbas, South Ukraine, and Crimea, to decide whether they wish to be:
•    part of Ukraine,
•    part of Russia,
•    or become independent states (as per the UN Charter for self-determination of people and nations).

Threatening the use of nuclear warheads will affect the entire planet negatively for thousands of years. Any use of even a small number of these nuclear warheads could end the planet’s ability to support biodiversity, including human life. In the name of us, the 8 billion humans, we state that no one has the right to take the risk of using nuclear arms, for whatever purpose.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian civilians, and young Russian soldiers have been killed and massacred uselessly, not to say criminally, since the invasion, and this number will double if the war persists. So we call for an immediate ceasefire: stop firing, talk, and both consider the requirements of the other side. Sign an agreement, a peace treaty. After a ceasefire and a peace treaty, we can start the rebuilding of Ukraine, a destroyed country. We support the full resumption of production and export of cereals, grain, and natural gas from Russia. Sanctions should end and free trade be re-established as soon as possible. Your actions will be an example of how to end other wars.

Having appealed to the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, we invite all heads of state and leaders in every nation of the world to hear this crucial appeal for the future, namely: to condemn war “as a tool of political action” and instead to use negotiation and, where necessary, arbitration to solve disagreements.
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2. Sudan

To General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). (These two generals worked together for carrying out the coup d’état. Now their battle for supremacy is tearing Sudan apart.)
These generals in Sudan, at present leading their factions in an internal war, are causing millions to die or risk dying of hunger. Destruction, killing, rape, and famine have spread everywhere.
The World Food Programme has stated that, without immediate food aid, millions risk dying of hunger. The warring factions prevent the entry of food aid or steal it if it comes.
To Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, get together in Egypt or Qatar (both willing to act as facilitators) and negotiate an agreement for the governance of Sudan, most urgent before most of Sudan is destroyed and millions die because of your fighting.
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3. Palestine/Gaza

By 7th January 2025, the war has left a toll on Palestinians in Gaza as follows:
•    Killed: at least 45,885 people, including 17,492 children
•    Injured: more than 109,196 people
•    Missing: more than 11,160

The toll on Israelis numbers 1,139, and in the occupied West Bank, 841.

The Israeli attacks have resulted in more than 92% of Gaza’s homes damaged or destroyed, 80% of commercial facilities, and 88% of school buildings destroyed. Healthcare facilities: 40% of hospitals are partially functional. 68% of road networks and 68% of cropland have been destroyed.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM B. Netanyahu for “war crimes” in Gaza, for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

There are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Gallant and Netanyahu “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”

As an independent observer, we call on all states to address the situation in Gaza and act now. How? The USA, the EU, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and China must act now to support and strengthen the present negotiations between Hamas and Israel. We call upon Prime Minister Netanyahu and the leader of Hamas to pursue the current talks until full agreement is reached, with the aim of stopping the genocide, returning all hostages, releasing prisoners, and implementing a permanent ceasefire.

Israel, the Palestinian State, Lebanon, and their neighbors can then live in peace. The reconstruction of Gaza can begin.
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Dr. Michael Atchia
Past Programme Director, United Nations
mklatchia@intnet.mu