A GROUP of trade union leaders, writers and politicians called for Britain to step up the flow of arms to Ukraine today — but peace activists warned this would be a “recipe for all-out war.”

An open letter called for protests during a global week of action marking a year since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

Arguing that “a democratic, lasting peace for the peoples of Ukraine and Russia requires the defeat of Russia’s brutal imperialism,” it called for governments to step up both humanitarian and military aid, including “the gifting to Ukraine of all the surplus UK military equipment due to be replaced,” including tanks and Typhoon fighter aircraft.

Union signatories include GMB leader Gary Smith, Aslef’s Mick Whelan and Chris Kitchen of the National Union of Mineworkers among others, while MPs who signed include Labour’s John McDonnell, Nadia Whittome, Clive Lewis, Rachael Maskell, Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Ian Lavery.

Senedd member Mick Antoniw and MSP Paul Sweeney backed the call, as did journalist Paul Mason and campaigner Peter Tatchell.

US President Joe Biden has so far declined Ukrainian demands for fighter aircraft, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that competition to supply Ukraine with the most powerful weaponry could escalate the conflict unpredictably.

Last year Mr Biden included aircraft along with “offensive weapons and tanks” as equipment which would not be sent to Ukraine for fear of provoking “World War III” if Nato armaments were deployed directly against Russia, which has the world’s largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

However, the US has since sent both medium-range rocket launchers and tanks.

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German told the Morning Star that the demands were dangerous and could see the conflict escalate to a general European war.

“It is regrettable to see some who were once opposed to war now lining up behind our right-wing government to demand ever more arms to Ukraine,” she said.

“It is foolish to believe this will lead to a rapid end of the war. Instead, it is a recipe for all-out war.

“Peace is at a premium, and that is why we’re marching on February 25.”

The Stop the War Coalition is calling a demonstration, Peace Talks Now — Stop the War in Ukraine, assembling at London’s Portland Place at noon that day.

The full text of the letter reads:

Stand with Ukraine — UK solidarity call for protests for the anniversary of Russia’s invasion

We are calling for and supporting protests, actions and meetings in solidarity with Ukraine in the last week of February — during the global week of action organised by the European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine and others, marking the anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

The casualties of Russia’s war in Ukraine are counted in tens of thousands, the displaced in many millions, the damage in tens of billions of pounds.  

The invading forces are systematically committing crimes including intentional killing of civilians, rape, destruction of vital infrastructure, and forced displacement and deportations, including of children.

Meanwhile the war is transforming Putin’s Russia into an even more violently reactionary and authoritarian regime.

A democratic, lasting peace for the peoples of Ukraine and Russia requires the defeat of Russia’s brutal imperialism.

We stand with Ukraine’s military resistance to Putin’s war, and with the anti-war resistance in Russia.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of all invading troops from the territory of Ukraine to its internationally recognised borders; the right for all refugees and displaced persons to return in conditions of safety; for those responsible for war crimes to be held fully accountable, and for meaningful justice for their victims.

We demand governments increase humanitarian aid, and for the gifting to Ukraine of all the surplus UK military equipment due to be replaced, especially the 79 Challenger tanks, 170 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles, all Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, Typhoon fighter aircraft — to help Ukraine win more quickly, with less suffering.

We commit to building renewed and expanded solidarity with Ukraine’s resistance; with Ukraine’s labour movement and left in their fight for independence, to defend workers’ rights, human rights and democracy during the war, and for a more just and democratic post-war reconstruction; and with the anti-war movement and independent labour organisations in Russia.

We call for the UK to increase its support and welcome for the victims of this conflict, and to end the hostile environment facing refugees.

Signatories:

Gary Smith, GMB general secretary
Barbara Plant, GMB president
Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary
Chris Kitchen, NUM general secretary
Simon Weller, Aslef assistant general secretary
John Moloney, PCS assistant general secretary (pc)
 
Oksana Holota, Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (in UK)
Pavlo Holota, Independent Union of Mineworkers of Ukraine (in UK)
Yuliya Yurchenko, Sotsialnyi Rukh, Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, UCU activist
 
John McDonnell MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Clive Lewis MP
Rachael Maskell MP
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Ian Lavery MP
Mick Antoniw, member of the Senedd
Paul Sweeney, member of the Scottish Parliament
Alena Ivanova, Sacha Ismail, Chris Ford, Ukraine Solidarity Campaign
 
Paul Mason, writer and campaigner
Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner