Newsletters / Brussels Conference of the Russian Anti-War Committee Ceasefire Today, Democracy Tomorrow

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We, Russians opposing Putin’s war can’t work openly in Russia anymore. From exile, we support Ukraine, political prisoners, and home resistance. Two weeks ago, we, members of the Russian Anti-War Committee met in Brussels and charted a new working plan.

These are the outcomes of our meeting. The Russian Anti-War Committee demands an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine to stop the senseless bloodshed. But let us be clear: stopping the fighting does not end the war. The war comes from the very nature of Putin’s regime.

Russian opposition’s warning to the world

Stopping the fighting in Ukraine will end the senseless deaths on both sides of the frontline. But a ceasefire does not mean the war is over. The war stems from the very nature of Putin’s regime and will continue as long as that regime exists.

Putin’s regime was designed from the start to crush civil liberties, destroy democratic institutions, and concentrate power in the hands of one man. Internal violence against civil society and external aggression against neighbours are two sides of the same totalitarian coin.

A potential truce is not the onset of peace. It may stop the guns on the frontline, but it will not end the regime’s war against the citizens of Russia, against Ukraine, and against other Western countries.

The Russian Anti-War Committee sees the dismantling of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime as a necessary condition for achieving its strategic goal – eliminating the threat of war. Without this regime’s liquidation, there can be no lasting peace in Europe or within Russia itself.

Only profound political changes — restoration of democracy, freedom of speech, independent judiciary, and civilian control over the government — can put an end to aggression and give Russia a chance for a peaceful and dignified future.

Let us be crystal clear: stopping the shooting does not end the war. A ceasefire is just a pause while Putin’s war machine catches its breath. Real, lasting peace in Europe is impossible without freedom in Russia. And freedom in Russia is impossible as long as Putin is in power.

At our conference, the Russian Anti-War Committee outlined key areas of work for the near future:

Launching a programme to support relatives of the Kremlin’s prisoners and advocating for the release of POWs.
Countering Kremlin propaganda by supporting independent media and educational initiatives.
Preparing expert reports on sanctions, economy, and political persecution to better inform key decision-makers.

The conference in Brussels also proved that the Russian anti-war movement grows stronger day after day. Grassroots projects are expanding, ties with international organisations are getting deeper, and advocates are finding ways to get European leaders to listen.

The Anti-War Committee of Russia will continue to operate as a coordinating centre for uniting anti-war, democratic, and human rights forces. We see our task not only as resisting the war but also as participating in the formation of a future peaceful, free, and responsible Russia.

Resolution in full

I welcome the decision by the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to formally back the Russian democratic opposition and urge the entire Assembly to join. I am also thankful to the members of the French National Assembly and representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting the work of our Russian Anti-War Committee. You can’t build the democratic Russia of tomorrow without supporting those fighting for it today.

In the Media

Mikhail Khodorkovsky spoke to Moritz Gathmann for STERN – “Putin wird keinen Krieg gegen die Nato riskieren” – ‘Putin will not risk a war against Nato’.

FRANCE 24’ TÊTE À TÊTE programme Marc Perelman spoke to Mikhail Khodorkovsky – ‘Putin using Trump ties as ‘legitimisation’ in Russia, exiled opponent Khodorkovsky says’

Mikhail Khodorkovsky: ‘Whatever Trump or Putin say means nothing until they agree on their mutual interests’. The interview by Rafa de Miguel for EL PAÍS

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russian opponent: ‘The Europeans haven’t understood Trump and Putin’. The interview by Cécile Ducourtieux for Le Monde

The interview by Andrew Marr for LBC – Donald Trump has made Vladimir Putin feel politically “comfortable”, a prominent critic of the Russian president has told LBC.