Stéphane Pallage, Rector;
Credit: University of Luxembourg
On Wednesday 2 March 2022, Stéphane Pallage, Rector of the University of Luxembourg, issued a statement in which he condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In this statement, addressed to staff and students of the University of Luxembourg, Stéphane Pallage said: "There are no words to qualify the horrors of the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have given the world a lesson of courage. As rector of a University, I cannot stay silent. Rectors do not call for violence, not even violence to counter violence. Words should be the weapon of democracy".
He continued: "In the name of the community of the University of Luxembourg, I condemn in the strongest possible terms the illegal invasion of Ukraine by troops of the Russian Federation. We demand an immediate end to the military aggression and occupation of the territory of Ukraine".
The university rector also announced a special fund to support students impacted by the violence in Ukraine.
He added that the university's "condemnation of the war should not be seen as a condemnation of Russian colleagues or Russian students, who take no part in this aggression and who belong to our community".
As a sign of solidarity with Ukrainians, Mr Pallage will lay a flower and hold a minute of silence on Thursday 3 March 2022 at 13:00 in Esch-Belval (by the Peace Pole, next to the Maison du Savoir).
