IPPNW was founded by US and Soviet physicians in 1980, at the height of the Cold War, when the US and the USSR maintained over 50,000 nuclear weapons. IPPNW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 for its efforts to set aside political ideologies and alert the world to the catastrophic medical and humanitarian consequences of nuclear war. Regrettably, the horrific violence taking place in Ukraine has raised the risk that nuclear weapons will be used, intentionally or by accident, to a level not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Russian and American scientists and health professionals have a special obligation as citizens of the two nations that possess approximately 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. The two nations must work together to reduce the nuclear threat through regular, frequent, comprehensive and result-oriented strategic dialogue. The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and growing risk of nuclear escalation has exposed the danger of the existing global nuclear disorder. If we are lucky enough to survive this moment without nuclear war, we must understand that this is a world-wide near death experience and respond with appropriate urgency.
IPPNW leaders in the United States, Russia, and beyond remain committed to IPPNW’s founding mission to foster medical and scientific dialogue across ideological and geographic divides. Our future depends on it. Please donate today towards our goal of $200,000 to build a medical bridge for peace and create lasting change.
IPPNW leaders address Russian Academy of Sciences, March 2022
In March 2022, Dr. James Muller, IPPNW co-founder and cardiologist, joined long-time Russian IPPNW leader Dr. Sergey Kolesnikov in addressing the prestigious Russian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Muller cautioned that the ongoing destruction in Ukraine could escalate and is preventing collaboration between Americans and Russians on a range of medical and scientific issues. “There is no possibility of raising money in the US for cooperation with Russian physicians until the violence has ceased,” he said. The meeting received coverage in the Boston Globe and WBUR, Boston’s local NPR station. Read Dr. Muller’s full remarks here [available in Russian and English].
Joint Statement by IPPNW Physicians in Russia and Ukraine, March, 2022
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, leading to human casualties. And in the case of escalation of the conflict it may cause more severe consequences, involvement of other countries, nuclear facilities and even nuclear confrontation… We call authorities of confronting parties and USA authorities to make everything to speed up constructive and effective negotiations to establish peace in Ukraine in order to save the lives of Ukrainian and Russian people. Read more.
Passing the Torch, October 2021
On 13 October 2021, new and senior leaders from Russian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and Physicians for Social Responsibility-US met in-person and virtually to “pass the torch” of our four-decade international effort to protect the life and health of humanity.
With this meeting and joint statement, the participants pledge to continue IPPNW’s necessary intergenerational work to eliminate the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons. Read more.
IPPNW and Pugwash Launch Appeal to Presidents Biden and Putin, June 2021
IPPNW, which along with Pugwash initiated the 7 June 2021 Russian-American High-Level Appeal to Presidents Biden and Putin on the issues of preventing nuclear war and nuclear disarmament, strongly welcomes the “U.S.-Russia Presidential Joint Statement on Strategic Stability,” adopted by the two leaders at their meeting in Geneva on 16 June 2021. Learn more.
“We hope the path of reason and peace can be chosen, and we can resume our collaboration with our Russian medical and scientific colleagues on the problems of disease, exploration of space and climate change – global problems which require a global response unimpeded by violence and threats of nuclear destruction. Humans can be consumed by their differences and turn to violence as we now witness — but we can also think clearly, cooperate, negotiate and love – let us choose these features of our nature.”