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This is a reminder for an Extraordinary General Meeting of UCL UCU which will be held today, Friday 11 March from 1-2 pm, facilitated using Zoom conferencing.

The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss and debate our response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We have received two motions for debate, and two amendments to motion 1, see Appendix 1 below.

UCL UCU Executive Committee

@ucl_ucu

UCL UCU website

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Appendix 1 - motions and amendments for debate

Motion 1

Oppose the invasion of Ukraine - for peace not escalation

UCL UCU stands united in our condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We declare our support for the human rights of those under occupation or suffering oppression.

UCL UCU resolves to:

1. Call on the UK Government to allow unconditional entry to the UK to refugees displaced by and fleeing this conflict, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or citizenship.
2. Stand in solidarity with everyone affected by these terrible events, and oppose all brutal and illegal occupations. We offer our solidarity to any colleagues and students directly and indirectly affected by these events.
3. Support all those calling for peace, including those in very difficult circumstances in Russia and Belarus, and to call on all governments – including our own – to bring about a peaceful end to this war.
4. Call on UK universities to facilitate the resettlement of refugee staff or students.

Motion 1 amendment A

Add at end new 'Resolves' point:

1. Call on UK universities to suspend all institutional cooperation and funding arrangements with all state-funded academic institutions in Russia, and in particular those whose leadership signed a statement by the Russian Union of Rectors dated 4 March 2022 endorsing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. UCL UCU supports constructive engagement with Russian colleagues and students on an individual basis, in particular those who may be suffering from, or in danger of suffering from, persecution in Russia.

Motion 1 amendment B

Add at end additional 'Resolves' points:

1. Implement an immediate cease fire under the supreme arbitration of the UN.
2. Stop sanctions of any kind to any side. This only puts more wood on the fire and risks escalation of colossal proportions (UN action).
3. Dismantle the Batallion Azov and any more similar groups and make sure nothing like that ever appears again (UN action).
4. Investigate any claims that Ukraine is developing biological/chemical weapons (UN action).
5. Implement unconditionally the resulting indications of the UN.
6. Indeed, implement immediately a UK solid plan of unconditional welcome of refugees.

Motion 2

1. UCL UCU condemns the despicable Russian military intervention and invasion of Ukraine that is causing death and destruction to the people of Ukraine, and poses an imminent danger for all the people of Europe and Central Asia. We stand in solidarity with the peoples affected by the conflict, and everyone raising their voices against this imperialist war.

2. This war does not happen in a vacuum. On the one hand, the US, NATO, and their European allies for years have promoted their positions in the area aiming at the economic, political, and military encirclement of Russia. On the other hand, Russia promotes its own plans for economic and military domination in the area, by eg. the annexation of Crimea and recently the recognition of the independence of the so-called "People's Republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk.

3. Irrespective of the pretexts used by both sides, Russia and the "West", the military conflict in Ukraine is the result of the sharpening of competition between the two warring camps, primarily focused on spheres of influence, market shares, raw materials, energy plans and transport routes. The consequences of this competition are felt far and wide through the sharp increases of the cost of energy and resulting cost of living we all experience. The working people everywhere are the ones that not only bear the worst of the imperialist war, but also foot the bill during times of peace.

4. The working people of the world cannot side with either one of the imperialist powers that cause this war. We call upon our own government to stop feeding the conflict, by refraining from sending any weapons or forces to the area, and to offer unconditional support to any refugees fleeing from the conflict.

UCL UCU resolves to:

1. Publicise this statement of support and try to gather more branches, Unions at our university, and student groups to support it too.
2. Send this statement to UCU London Region for adoption/support.
3. Participate in protests and actions of solidarity organised with a similar framework, e.g. by the Stop The War coalition.