More than a hundred influential politicians, academics, military officers, journalists and public figures from Western countries have addressed an open letter to the international community, calling for an agreement with Russia not to be concluded at the expense of Ukraine’s interests. Time Ukraine Israel reports.
The authors of the letter warn that if Donald Trump wins the US election, his administration may try to impose a deal with Moscow that would threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty and the stability of European security. Conversely, if Kamala Harris is elected, they predict, the US will maintain its current limited strategy of supporting Ukraine, which has not yet brought it enough resources to win a decisive victory.
The authors of the appeal also point to the fatalistic position of some European governments, which, considering Ukraine’s victory unlikely, are limited to strengthening NATO’s defence measures. Such a position, according to the authors, could seriously weaken the unity of the Alliance and push it to dangerous compromises with Russia.
According to the signatories, the situation is reminiscent of the historical lessons of the Munich Agreement of 1938, when Europe, by agreeing to territorial concessions to the aggressor, hoped to avoid a major war. “This will be a false peace achieved at the cost of dismembering a sovereign state,” the signatories warn. In their view, such a step would only bring a new, even larger and more destructive war closer.
Western figures offer an alternative way to support Ukraine that will allow it to achieve victory. The authors of the letter are convinced that a real strategy for Ukraine’s victory not only exists, but is also obvious to many in the governments of European NATO countries. They call for a coalition of countries that are ready to provide practical support to Kyiv without waiting for unanimous approval from all 32 members of the Alliance.
“The course of action is simple: countries willing and able to support Ukraine should step up military and financial assistance, reaffirming their commitment to the goal of a sovereign Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders,” the statement said. This approach, in line with the “will to act” principle, means that support for Ukraine will not require the unanimous consent of all NATO members, but will be provided by the efforts of willing countries. This also includes countries that have pledged to help return Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories and provide Kyiv with real security guarantees after the war.
In addition, the authors of the letter emphasise that the sustainability of Russian military efforts is nothing more than a myth. The signatories provide specific data: Russia loses about 260 units of heavy artillery and tanks every month, while it is capable of producing only 20. According to their forecasts, by the second half of 2025, Russia could exhaust its weapons stockpile, which would weaken its position on the battlefield.
During the last NATO summit, Allies signed a document called the Ukraine Compact, which aims to create a coordinated architecture to support Ukraine. It brings together states that have previously concluded bilateral security agreements with Ukraine to strengthen joint actions in support of Ukraine.
Historical background: The Munich Agreement of 1938 was an agreement under which European countries agreed to make territorial concessions to Hitler in order to avoid war, effectively allowing the annexation of part of Czechoslovakia by Germany. However, this concession did not avert the conflict, but only strengthened the aggressor’s position and led to the Second World War.
