After Slovak government halts Ukraine aid; its citizens dig deep to help through crowdfunding

“We have to drive Putin out of Ukraine. We have to defeat him,” declared Otto Simko, a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor and veteran of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising. Simko, adamant about challenging the government’s stance, emphasized the futility of negotiations with Putin, drawing parallels to his experiences during World War II.

The campaign took shape from a chance conversation Simko had with a journalist and a philosopher, leading to the idea of mobilizing Slovak assistance for Kyiv through crowdfunding. This initiative allows Slovaks to circumvent their government’s reluctance to provide military aid to Ukraine, particularly under the leadership of Robert Fico.

Despite the critical shortage of artillery ammunition faced by Ukrainian forces in their struggle against Russian aggression, Prime Minister Fico has adamantly opposed joining the Czech-led effort to procure such supplies from the global arms market. Fico argues that arming Ukraine only prolongs the conflict and advocates for Kyiv to pursue peace negotiations with Moscow.

In response to Fico’s stance, the crowdfunding campaign has gained significant traction, with over 23,000 donors contributing more than €1.5 million euros within a short period. Organized under the banner “If The Government Won’t – We Will,” the campaign reflects the widespread discontent among Slovaks with their government’s foreign policy.

Zuzana Izsakova from the “Peace to Ukraine” initiative, spearheading the crowdfunding effort in collaboration with the Czech-based Endowment Fund for Ukraine, expressed surprise at the overwhelming support received. She sees it as a testament to Slovak society’s resistance against the government’s stance.

While the government has remained silent on the campaign, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak emphasized Slovakia’s democratic principles, asserting that citizens are free to support initiatives as they see fit. Meanwhile, the Czech ammunition initiative, backed by EU and NATO partners, aims to bolster Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, with contracts for significant quantities already secured.

However, strategic ambiguity surrounds the project, and concerns linger regarding the sources of the procured shells. Nonetheless, supporters like Otto Simko remain resolute in their commitment to aiding Ukraine in its struggle against totalitarianism, underscoring the imperative of defeating Putin to safeguard future generations and global security.