Statement of the ESRF Council on the aggression against Ukraine

The ESRF Council met at an extraordinary meeting, called by the Chair on 22 March, in which the Russian Federation declined to participate, to discuss the impact for the ESRF of the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

The ESRF Council, with the exception of the Russian Member:

• condemns without reserve the aggression of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. This aggression goes against the ESRF’s core principles of scientific cooperation across borders as a driver for peaceful growth and democracy, and against the European values at the origin of the establishment of the ESRF; and
• expresses its full support to and its solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the many refugees, and the victims of this war.

The ESRF Council has thus decided to suspend until further notice:

• the establishment of scientific and technical collaborations by the ESRF with institutes of the Russian Federation;
• the invitation to Russian organisations to participate in ESRF advisory bodies; and
• ESRF participation in events organised by the Russian Federation or Russian organisations.

The ESRF Council and Management will continue to carefully monitor the situation, in order to envisage any further measures, as and when appropriate.