To Secretary of State Blinken:

At a time where military conflict is on the rise and is destroying the lives of everyday people across the globe, diplomacy is more important than ever before. That is why, on 3/22, CODEPINK joined you at the Foreign Relations Committee Hearing “American Diplomacy and Global Leadership: Review of The FY24 State Department Budget Request.” We presented five demands to promote diplomacy and peace throughout the world, in contrast to your current approach of escalation. Our demands are as follows:

1. Peace Talks Now for Peace in Ukraine!
2. China is Not Our Enemy
3. Free Palestine: No $$$ to Israeli Apartheid
4. Take Cuba Off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List
5. Lift Sanctions of Venezuela and Cuba

The Biden administration’s actions continue to escalate the Ukraine war, which recently passed the one-year mark. The true goal of the massive arming and training of Ukrainian forces has nothing to do with the interests of Ukrainian, Russian or American people. The aim instead is to weaken Russia, even at the risk of a catastrophic nuclear war that could end life on Earth. A U.S. General commanding 50,000 troops in the Pacific also issued a letter to his sub-commanders in recent days informing them that he believes that the United States will be at war with China within two years. 

We are at a global crisis point that continues to grow the longer the war in Ukraine continues. We, the undersigned, ask you to honor your role as the top U.S. diplomat and engage in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. We also demand that you take action to cooperate with China, instead of promoting competition and military escalation; you halt the transfer of $3.8 billion of U.S. funds to the apartheid Israeli government; you remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List; and you lift the sanctions from Venezuela and Cuba.

Sincerely,