General information
Coordination: informal Network of NATO countries citizens.
Who is initiating: citizens of NATO/EU countries. Please find letter versions with latest signatures:
>> Czech republic – letter to prime minister Petr Fiala
>> Italy – letter to prime minister Giorgia Meloni
>> Germany – letter to Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, MoF
>> USA – letter to president Biden
>> Poland – letter to prime minister Donald Tusk
Aim: create awareness, that European/NATO countries citizens are asking their representatives for action regarding joint robust fund for defense of Ukraine
Timing: ahead of NATO summit July 9-11, 2024
How it shall be organized:
>> Individual open letters: translated and customized for every country – based on the proposal below
>> Individual signatures by people and organisations backing the letters in every involved country
>> Special events to support the initiative in every country (flash mobs, etc.)
Update – see our campaign video (rap clip) ahead of NATO summit
X: https://x.com/ORozcestnik/status/1806662823805935617
YouTube: https://youtu.be/NTTydCoZAH4?si=FxTSWjz2kwiiaynF
Reference/background:
>> NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg proposal of joint defense financing of Ukraine at least 40B euro/year; (and there was recently agreement that Hungary will not block such efforts)
>> Estonian plan proposal – raise at least 120B euro/year for defense of Ukraine.
Letter proposal for NATO / EU leaders (it shall be translated to individual languages and customized):
Dear Prime Minister (or Dear President/Chancellor),
we are writing to you and to other NATO leaders to express our deep concerns regarding insufficient funding for European and Ukrainian defense. We are EU and NATO citizens and want to support a robust joint answer to the threat of Russian war. When we look to the recent past, such a common challenge was for example tackled during and after the pandemic, when the EU was able to create 800-billion-euro financial instrument for helping its economies.
Now, we are in even greater danger and are concerned for the lack of such a resolute answer. Ukraine has been bravely resisting Russian aggression for 10 years. It is backing European defense by blood and does not ask us to pay this highest price. They only ask for sufficient material support. And what is the answer of EU and NATO countries? We see insufficient and unstable funding, Ukraine needs to be asking again and again for every individual defense system donation to protect its cities, protect lives. These systems are coming late and not in necessary amounts. Ukraine’s power grid is decimated and winter is fast approaching. But it is important to fully understand that Ukraine is really defending Europe and we must act decisively to defend elementary international rules, humanity as well as our own security. Lets not forget, that there are risks associated with various western elections – particularly in the USA. Therefore, we must not think that NATO will always protect us without our own right and timely decisions.
Therefore, we are supporting the plan of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to create a joint financing for defense of Ukraine in the amount of at least 40 billion euro per year. As he indicated, much smarter is to have greater funds. For example, the Estonian ministry of defense calculated that if western countries invest as low as 0,25% GDP per year (120 billion euro/year) then it will be clear for Russia that war cannot continue successfully for them. It is important to repeat, that NATO countries GDP is more that 20 times larger compared to Russia.
The aim should be to create joint defense fund for Ukraine and all following options shall be explored in order to get as close as possible to amount of 120 billion euro per year:Frozen Russian assets globally: seize them or raise joint debt backed by these funds (it is already partially in process via the G7 initiative, thank you).
>> Joint debt options: raise sufficient resources on financial markets. This is the option ideally linked with joint debt (eurobonds) discussion within the EU countries and some options do not require unanimous support.
>> Directly assign part of resources from national budgets.
>> Redirect funding from EU or other international budgets.
>> Explore other funding options.
The proposal cannot be considered a call to „make donations“ or „to divert taxpayer funds“. On the contrary, it is a call for the most efficient use of common possibilities and resources to avert much higher losses. This plan to end the war (the only real peace plan) is an opportunity to save taxpayers huge costs by ending the war as quickly as possible. And most importantly, the faster we respond, the more lives we save. It is the defense not only of people in Ukraine, but also in our other Western countries threatened by Russian war plans.
We hope that you will consider very wisely the mentioned information and that there will be your support for necessary defense funding instrument.
Your sincerely,
Example information sources for reference:
- European recovery and resilience fund (800B eur) https://commission.europa.eu/news/recovery-funds-continue-drive-positive-change-and-support-eu-economy-2024-02-21_en
- How the West is helping Ukraine will not be enough to win https://www.politico.eu/article/how-west-help-ukraine-not-enough-win-war-russia/
- NATO GDP vs. Russia https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/nato-at-75-the-alliances-future-lies-in-ukraines-victory-against-russia/
- Estonian plan https://obcanskyrozcestnik.cz/estonia-plan-for-ukraine/
Progress info before NATO summit links
Agreement not reached yet:
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/06/14/7460811/index.amp
Defense ministry i Italy: https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/ucraina-crosetto-non-siamo-daccordo-con-il-piano-nato-a-lungo-termine-da-40-miliardi-lanno/?amp
How to join in your country? Write us on social networks or e-mail info()actionwithukraine.net