Nov 21, 2025
Future Slovakia Forum (FSF) today released the Declaration of November 21 — a moral and strategic analysis responding to Ukraine's fourth wartime winter and to reported "peace proposals" that would negotiate Ukraine's future without Ukraine's consent. Drawing on testimonies from Lviv by Jevhenija Nesterovyč, Martin Kroupa, and Jan Dobrovský, the Declaration warns that fundamental democratic principles — and the foundations of European security — are at risk.
Why this Declaration matters
The Declaration was drafted as Ukraine enters another winter of full-scale war. While much of Europe has strengthened its support, reported diplomatic initiatives emerging from Washington risk creating an agreement that would impose territorial concessions, military restrictions, the renunciation of NATO membership, and amnesty for war criminals — without Ukraine’s full consent.
The Declaration states: "This is not a peace plan. It is a capitulation document."
The testimonies from Lviv highlight a growing concern: that decisions affecting Ukraine's sovereignty may be made about Ukraine but not with Ukraine — violating the democratic principle “Nothing about us without us.”
Key insights from the Declaration
The Declaration outlines what is at stake for the entire region:
Ukraine's fate will determine the future security of Central Europe. Putin's objectives extend beyond Ukrainian territory to political control over the wider region.
A Russian victory would push the front line of aggression toward the EU's eastern flank. Slovakia and neighboring democracies face the same imperial pressure — not militarily (yet), but geopolitically, economically, and informationally.
Most of Europe recognizes this reality — and has significantly increased military, financial, and diplomatic support for Ukraine. The primary risk comes from those European governments and regional actors undermining unity of Europe (Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia).
The credibility of NATO security guarantees depends on standing firmly with Ukraine now. From the Baltic states to Taiwan, every small democracy is watching how the West treats Ukrainian sovereignty.
Slovakia: A case study in strategic contradiction
The Declaration examines Slovakia's internal contradictions. Although 63.5% of Slovaks support a pro-Western orientation (March 2025 FSF survey), current government policy is increasingly aligned with Russian geopolitical interests.
The document describes this gap as a "strategic chimera":
Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly declares: "Not one cent for military aid to Ukraine"
Reality: Slovak private defense companies exported $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine in 2024 — a tenfold increase, representing approximately 1% of Slovakia's entire economy
Energy policy: Slovakia reduced Russian gas dependency from 85% (2021) to ~22% (Q1 2025), yet the government plans to maximize Russian imports to 50-70% for cost reasons — despite having infrastructure capacity exceeding 15 times its consumption
Oil dependency: Increased from 65% (2022) to 87% (2024) from Russian sources
The Declaration states: "The government profits from Ukrainian defense while rhetorically supporting Ukraine's subjugation. Slovakia has not become neutral. It has become complicit."
Historical memory as a moral weapon
The Declaration draws on three historical parallels:
Munich 1938: Appeasement of aggressors did not prevent war — it guaranteed a worse one
Holodomor: Russian promises of peace historically meant Ukrainian death
Budapest Memorandum 1994: Security guarantees are meaningless unless honored
Jevhenija Nesterovyč's words capture the Ukrainian perspective:
"When we last tried for peace, we got the Holodomor."
The principle: "Nothing about us without us"
The Declaration emphasizes Jevhenija Nesterovyč's statement:
"Nothing about us without us — if you abandon this principle, it is no longer a democratic world."
Jan Dobrovský added:
"Negotiating 'peace' by sacrificing a country that is heroically defending itself is a crime, I would even say a war crime. This is not diplomacy, this is trading with human lives."
The Declaration formulates this as a foundational principle: third countries — whether the United States, France, Germany, or Slovakia — have no moral or legal right to negotiate Ukrainian sovereignty without Ukraine's explicit consent.
Moral clarity in unprecedented times
The Declaration characterizes the present moment with precision:
"Ukraine is bleeding. Europe is torn between courage and caution. Slovakia's policies undermine European solidarity."
The document adds: "This is not about politics. This is about moral truth."
These words are not partisan commentary — they reflect a moral and civilizational choice facing the region. As Martin Kroupa stated:
"Putin wants to dominate Central and Eastern Europe, threatens our NATO membership, wants NATO's collapse — this is our war, and Ukrainians are fighting it for us."
FSF's position
Future Slovakia Forum's Declaration reaffirms:
Unconditional support for Ukraine's right to decide its own future — rejecting all "peace plans" that include territorial concessions, military restrictions, removal of NATO prospects, or amnesty for war crimes
Public disagreement with any US approach that violates the "Nothing about us without us" principle — not as hostility toward the United States, but as defense of democratic principles
Systematic documentation of the Slovak government's contradictions — between public rhetoric and economic reality, between proclaimed neutrality and complicity
Accountability for churches that mobilize against imaginary cultural threats while remaining silent about actual crimes
Defense of democratic institutions — independent media, judicial independence, civil society space
Closing statement
The Declaration concludes:
"Future Slovakia Forum stands unequivocally for Ukraine's right to determine its own fate. We reject without exception all 'peace plans' that emerge without its consent, and we call on governments — including the government of the United States — to respect the principle of democratic sovereignty and not trade it for their own geopolitical convenience."
"Freedom begins with truth. And truth begins with the courage to reject a lie — no matter who speaks it."
Availability
The full Declaration of November 21 is now available on the FSF website.
Read the full Declaration 👇
Press Release for Media 👇
FSF will publish additional analytical materials — in the coming days.
Sources:
"Peace Plan" of the USA for Russia and Ukraine here 👇
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/draft-us-backed-peace-proposal-ukraine-2025-11-21/ Podcast Paměti národa (Post Bellum) — Dobrovský & Šídlo is here 👇 https://herohero.co/dobrovskysidlo/post/egnjmmrferwhidhgnreiuvjrtasowzblw
Survey “Where Does Slovakia Belong?” (March 2025)
https://www.future-slovakia.eu/news/expert-discussion-ii.---all-facts-(instead-of-guesses)-revealed.-where-does-slovakia-belong%3F
About Future Slovakia Forum
Future Slovakia Forum is a Bratislava based think tank supporting democratic institutions, rule of law, and evidence-based reform across Central Europe. Founded February 8, 2024, FSF combines deep expertise in healthcare with cross-disciplinary work in education, public finance, and governance.
The Declaration of November 21 is part of FSF's broader Ethical Renewal of Slovakia (2025-2028) project, developed in partnership with civil society organizations across the region.
Contact: media@future-slovakia.eu | www.future-slovakia.eu