Dear EMS members,
The whole world witnessed how on February 24, the President of Russia Putin started a military invasion of Ukraine, which is a blatant act of aggression on a neighbouring democratic country.
The Russian army is shelling residential areas of our cities from Russia, Belarus, and occupied Transdniestrian region, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure. This is an attack not only on Ukraine but on those values and freedoms that we hope all EMS members share with us.
Many European mathematicians have participated in the conferences held in Ukraine. This year, we planned to organize a number of meetings in which our European colleagues planned to participate. Unfortunately, now their organization is impossible, as most of our fellow mathematicians have to defend this country in any possible way, helping the army and civilians. They do what they can.
We also ask you to do everything you can do:
1. Make an open statement about the strict disapproval of the Russian military aggression and a call for peace
2. Suspend all EMS activities and membership in Russia. Many EMS members in Russia do not support the war but they are scared since for any protest or even any mention of the word “war” they are seized by the police. However, at the same time, many of our soldiers sacrifice their lives protecting the country. Russian EMS members must understand that Putin’s military aggression is destroying also Russia’s future
3. Support the appeal to NATO to protect our sky<https://www.openpetition.eu/petition/online/people-around-the-world-ask-nato-to-close-the-airspace-over-ukraine>
4. Urge your governments to impose strict sanctions on Russia and suspend all export of high-tech products
5. Please support Ukrainian Army<https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi> or Ukrainian Red Cross<http://redcross.org.ua/donate/>
6. Many Ukrainians in your countries collect medical supplies and things for refugees; please help them in any way you can
7. Contact other members of the EMS, spread the call for support of Ukraine and help us to stop the war!
Thank you for your involvement!
By helping protect Ukraine you will help to protect the whole Europe!
On behalf of the Ukrainian mathematicians
Yuriy Drozd, President of the Ukrainian Mathematical Society
Yevhen Khruslov, President of the Kharkiv Mathematical Society
Sergiy Maksymenko, President of the Kyiv Mathematical Society
Olena Karlova, President of the Chernivtsi Mathematical Society
Rostyslav Hryniv, President of the Lviv Mathematical Society