WASHINGTON/GENEVA, February 24, 2026—The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who for four years have resisted Russia’s illegal, fossil‑fueled war of aggression at enormous human, social, and environmental cost, defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We once again condemn Russia’s invasion as a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, and an egregious act of imperialism and oppression. The environmental and health risks created by military operations around nuclear installations, petrochemical plants, and industrial facilities in Ukraine underline that environmental protection is inseparable from the protection of life, human dignity, and peace.
CIEL continues to call on all states to adopt and enforce comprehensive, loophole‑free sanctions on Russian fossil fuels and all entities that enable this trade, ensuring that no revenue from oil, gas, or coal continues to finance Russia’s war machine. At the same time, public funds must not be diverted into a new cycle of militarization and arms races on either side of the Atlantic. In a world already facing multiple crises and nuclear dangers, solutions must be grounded in preventing escalation, strengthening international law, and investing in just, peaceful, and sustainable societies.
To counterbalance the power of aggressors everywhere, the international community must accelerate a rapid, equitable, and permanent transition away from coal, oil, and gas toward a fossil‑free future that upholds human rights, protects the environment, and safeguards peace.
Media Contact
Bianca Vergnaud, Communications Campaign Specialist: [email protected]