On our own behalf, on behalf of the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as well as on behalf of millions of Ukrainians who have freely and democratically chosen us to represent their legitimate interests, we appeal to the heads of parliaments and parliamentarians of African countries.

As you read this address, Russian troops continue to cynically and ruthlessly exterminate Ukrainian civilians, besiege and destroy Ukrainian towns and villages, and carry out air and missile strikes on housing estates, schools, hospitals and birthing centers, kindergartens and critical and vital infrastructure of our cities. The atrocities and inhumanity of modern russian fascists, their overt brutal killings of civilians, defenseless Ukrainian women and children remind us of the horrors and atrocities the world saw during World War II.

The goal of Russia's war of aggression is obvious – to destroy the Ukrainian statehood and the heroic and freedom-loving people of Ukraine, who aspired for ages freedom, independence, democratic values and the right to build their own country and future. Russia is trying to demonstrate the world the dominance and supremacy of its so-called "Russian world", nazi ideology, prevailing over the rights and vital interests of other countries and peoples.

The Ukrainian army, all our people, are courageously resisting this extremely rude aggression of the Russian "empire of evil ". We defend our country, our land, our freedom and independence, the future of our children. Losses in manpower and equipment of the so-called "the second army of the world" in Ukraine during the 18 days of the war have already exceeded the losses of the Soviet Union during the 11 years of the war in Afghanistan. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed and disabled now a third of all Russia's military potential, which cruelly invaded the territory of our State.

The devastating losses of the Russian army in Ukraine, the demoralization of a large part of the Russian military and the problems arising from the mobilization of reservists for war with Ukraine are forcing today the Kremlin regime to seek any opportunity to replenish its reserves and continue aggression. For this reason, Russia is trying today to enroll mercenaries from Africa and the Middle East. Russia is blackmailing the whole world with nuclear threats, hatching plans to launch terrorist attacks on the captured Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants in order to accuse later the Ukrainian side of doing that.

The whole civilized world could have never imagined, even in its most horrible dreams, the possibility of launching artillery and rocket attacks on nuclear infrastructure, as is currently the case in Ukraine. Acting such way Russia has proved that it is capable of committing such openly terroristic acts. Similarly, the Russian regime plans to use chemical or biological weapons under the so-called "third flag." All this is done in order to intimidate the whole world and to force Ukraine to accept the terms dictated by Kremlin and to give up actually its Statehood, its independence and future.

Ukraine has not had and does not have any weapons of mass destruction, has never developed them and therefore does not have the opportunity to use them in any part of the world. We unilaterally lost our third nuclear capability in the world in the early 1990s, and we are strictly adhering to our obligations under the International Conventions on the Prohibition of Chemical, Biological and Bacteriological Weapons.

Dear people's deputies!

For many decades, the Ukrainian state has been a reliable source and guarantor of food security at the global level. Ukraine is one of the world leaders in the production and export of many types of food. All our international partners are well aware of the quality and availability of Ukrainian agricultural and food products. At present, Russia's rude and large-scale aggression against Ukraine has already led to a significant rise in prices and a partial shortage of agricultural products around the world. And this in just three incomplete weeks of war! Fertile Ukrainian lands, unique chernozem and favorable climatic conditions have now become a new target of Putin's aggressive military machine in Ukraine.

In the event the large-scale Russian military invasion drags on, the forecasts are disappointing. Ukraine will not be able to properly conduct the sowing campaign, which has to start throughout our country. As a result, according to the most optimistic scenario, at least 100 million people may suffer from large-scale famine this and next year all over the world, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Dear friends!

By attacking Ukraine, the putin’s regime has gambled not only the well-being and security of Ukrainians and Russians. In a senseless pursuit of imperial ambitions, in its aspirations to restore the long-lost illusory greatness of the Soviet Union, Russia has become a terrorist country that threatens the world.

The imperialist, neo-colonial policy of the Russian Federation projected towards its neighbors, its desire to forcefully change borders and rewrite the history of the modern world for the sake of changing the world order, where russian nazism should rule - the so-called The "Russian world", its desire to subjugate free peoples by forcing them to abandon their culture, language, traditional values and perception of the world, all these elements testify the birth in the 21st century of a neo-nazi state led by international criminal Vladimir Putin. Today, Russia is trying to destroy European and international solidarity, the principles and norms of international law which have been written down and implemented for decades.

The Kremlin has launched an offensive against global international stability and is trying to create poles of confrontation by involving into unjustified russian aggression those states in the world, which have not loudly and firmly condemned violation by the Russian Federation of the fundamental principles of International Law.

Only global solidarity against the war in Ukraine will be able to demonstrate to Moscow the unwillingness of the world community to associate itself with the aggressor. The unequivocal condemnation by all countries of the world of Russia's aggressive actions will force the Russian leadership to agree to a constructive diplomatic dialogue aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine.

The reserved and equidistant position taken by some states in relation to the Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine is seen by Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin as international support, which gives him confidence in the impunity for his criminal decisions.

For the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of the world, for the restoration of peace and stability in Ukraine, for the need to maintain an effective world order that guarantees peaceful coexistence of all states, we urge you to unite and demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine in resisting the rude and cynical Russian aggression. Ukraine will welcome any steps taken by the world parliamentarism aimed at the immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of our State.

Only working together we will be able to resist the neo-colonial, neo-nazi and imperial policies of the Russian regime. Only together will we be able to defeat evil and to force Russia's aggressive machine retreating from Ukraine and to stop Russia preventing all countries from building freely and independently their future.

By helping Ukraine, you will first and foremost help your citizens, whilst protecting them from global nuclear terrorism, famine, unemployment and impoverishment.

Only together can we restore peace and ensure the prosperity of our peoples!

Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan STEFANCHUK