Unity in Ukraine is unity for peace and justice

We need a system that is fairer, more representative and better able to take decisive action against serious violations of the UN Charter. As we approach the Future Summit that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has planned for next year, we owe it not only to the Ukrainian people, but to all of humanity to reject the aggression and end it. impunity of the aggressors. Only in this way can we live the premise of the UN Charter for a world without the scars of war

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine – a blatant attempt to undermine an independent and sovereign state living peacefully within its recognized borders – has raised fundamental questions about the world we live in and how international relations should be managed. in the future. A year later, the search for answers is even more urgent and must include countries near and far from the war.

Failure to protect the core principles of sovereignty and independence everywhere risks opening the door to authoritarian and aggressive regimes in every corner. To live in a world where differences between states are resolved through negotiation rather than force, we must recognize that the challenge of the post-1945 international order by war affects every state, regardless of political system or alliance. The truth is, it is the smaller and less powerful countries that will suffer the most if the world is divided into competing blocs, as happened during the Cold War.

As a former Secretary-General of the United Nations and a former President of Colombia, we do not look at the war in Ukraine from a European or Western perspective. When we visited Kiev in August 2022, at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, we stayed there as members of The Elderly, an independent group of leaders founded by Nelson Mandela to defend peace, justice, rights of man and the sustainable future of the planet. As part of the group, we are interested in ending wars, not winning them, and we believe that it is never too early to start preparations for future dialogue, in the name of achieving a permanent and lasting peace. in line with the UN Charter.

We look at this terrible war and its aftermath through a global lens. We recognize that for countries experiencing inflation and poverty as a result of collapsing grain supplies and rising energy prices, protecting international norms and holding Russia accountable are less pressing issues than a security crisis fueled by food shortages which is threatening millions of vulnerable people.

Likewise, we understand why, at a time when geopolitical power dynamics have become less predictable, some states seek to balance their political and economic interests in ways they believe will help them maintain security and future prosperity. For many countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, talk in the West about preserving the values ​​of the "international community" rings hollow, given the failure of developed countries to distribute vaccines equitably during the COVID-19 pandemic. XNUMX, or to implement the long-promised financing for combating the climate crisis.

However, responses from Asia, Latin America and other parts of the world, beyond Europe and North America, should not be a retreat from international law and universal rights, or remain neutral towards what is happening in Ukraine. Contrary to what some suggest, neutrality does not advance the prospects for peace; it simply emboldens Russian President Vladimir Putin to persist in his goal of destroying Ukraine and may encourage similar acts of aggression and territorial expansion elsewhere.

It has been 80 years since the Moscow Declaration, when the wartime Allies committed themselves to "a general international organization based on the principles of equal sovereignty for all peace-loving states". Today, we need a renewed commitment from all UN member states to do their part in reviving an equitable, rules-based order that protects and works for everyone, including those which are less powerful.

Achieving and maintaining a revitalized international order requires fairer systems of global governance and greater consistency in the application of rules. Rising regional powers have a vital role to play – an important decision to make – in this regard. Last year's G20 summit in Bali demonstrated how regional powers such as Indonesia can help bridge divisions. Political leaders reaffirmed the UN Charter as central and ensured that the interests of the Global South were reflected in the final debates and commitments, such as on food and energy security.

Now, the G20 presidencies of India, Brazil and South Africa offer an opportunity to build on Indonesia's achievements over the next three years. Current divisive issues must not be allowed to stand in the way of the ultimate goal we all share: a world in which divisions are resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law and human rights obligations.

Restoring the credibility of the multilateral system requires more than just ethical leadership and moral consistency. It also requires ambitious reforms in the global peace and security architecture – a task that must also include the thorny issue of reforming the UN Security Council.

We need a system that is fairer, more representative and better able to take decisive action against serious violations of the UN Charter. As we approach the Future Summit that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has planned for next year, we owe it not only to the Ukrainian people, but to all of humanity to reject the aggression and end it. impunity of the aggressors. Only in this way can we live the premise of the UN Charter for a world without the scars of war.

(Ban Ki-moon, vice-chairman of the Elders, is a former secretary-general of the United Nations and former foreign minister of South Korea. Juan Munuel Santos, laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, is a former president of Colombia ( 2010-2018) and member of The Elderly. This review was written exclusively for the global journalism network "Project Syndicate", of which "Koha Ditore" is also a part).