Update: Czech letter (now available for public support) was signed by 34 people including i.e. Fedor Gál, founder of „Public against violence“ in 80s, Olga Sommerová, famous documentarist or Jaroslav Hutka, famous song writer. and signatories of Charter 77. The letter was sent to the government office in May 5th 2025 and Friday that week, it was supported by public event.
Prague, 24 April 2025
Sky Shield plan for Ukraine – Open Letter to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
Dear Prime Minister,
We are pleased that the Czech Republic supports Ukraine in its fight for its own freedom and that you are looking for new ways to jointly resist Russian aggression. However, the situation is very serious – the actions of the US do not inspire confidence that the security of Ukraine, and therefore of the whole of Europe, will be ensured.
European countries are waking up, a coalition of the willing has been formed, but the deployment of their troops is conditional on the conclusion of a ceasefire. Unfortunately, however, there is no sign of a truly stable ceasefire, where Russia would stop attacking the territory of sovereign Ukraine – not only on the front line, but also far to the west, against towns, against the civilian population.
That is why we ask you to support the European Sky Shield for Ukraine plan – the launch of an operation by 120 Western aircraft to guard central and western Ukraine against cruise missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s infrastructure. The operation would be organized by a coalition of willing countries. The plan has been prepared by British and Ukrainian military experts, supported by 73 politicians, diplomats and experts from Europe and North America and it has several major advantages:
- It is not dependent on a ceasefire, so it can help Ukraine quickly.
- It takes advantage of Europe’s strengths – a modern air force, without great risks to aircrews, due to the great distance from active Russian aircraft.
- It will show Europe’s resolve, stabilise the infrastructure and economy of central and western Ukraine. It will help Ukraine to concentrate its resources on defending the eastern part of its territory.
- The operation could and should be funded by frozen Russian assets – according to the #MakeRussiaPay campaign proposals.
We are very aware that it is election time in the Czech Republic. It is a situation where many parties are downplaying the Russian security threat just to get more votes, or even have no problem openly cooperating with an aggressive Russia. But we think that just as you have found courage in the past, you will find it now and you will be able to explain to people that decisive action is needed and that you understand the threats to Czech security.
On behalf of the Civic signpost initiative (Občanské zázemí z.s.), Michal Majzner, Kateřina Šírová and Václav Čapek.
The undersigned:
Lucie Javůrková, non-profit sector
Ondřej Bednář, theatre practitioner
Eva Lee, linguist
Jana Plavec, photographer
Zuzana Bohmová, editor
Jaroslav Suk, linguist, Charter 77 signatory
Jiří Pavlíček, participant in the resistance against communism, signatory of Charter 77
Jarmila Johnová, Charter 77 signatory
Jana Hradilková, Bohemist, poet, Grandmothers without Borders
Barbara Tranová, social worker
Lída Rakušanová, journalist
Tereza Boučková, writer, Charter 77 signatory
Jana Červenková, writer, publicist and translator
John Bok, Charter 77 signatory
Fedor Gál, co-founder of the Public Against Violence, sociologist, writer
Miroslav Skalický, pensioner, Christian hermit
Ljuba Štefanová, diplomat emeritus
Pavel Štefan, artist
Jiří Tichý, art curator and publicist
Jaroslav Hutka, singer-songwriter
Irena Moudrá Wünschová, physician
Věra Roubalová Kostlánová psychotherapist, signatory of Charter 77
Petr Placák, historian
Martin Vrba, member of the Civic Hinterland Association
Michaela Horáková, project management specialist
Martin Forejt, member of Občanské zázemí
Marek Hilšer, physician, former senator, educator
Martin Mejstřík, chairman of the strike committee of the university, 1989, former senator
Lenka Marečková, writer, lawyer, signatory of Charter 77
Mikuláš Minář, Founder of the Million Moments for Democracy
Alexandra Alvarová, author of books on information warfare
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
For more information on the European Sky Shield plan for Ukraine:
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/06/european-led-ukraine-air-protection-plan-could-halt-russian-missile-attacks
- https://proof.org.ua/projects/sky-shield/text-and-signatories/
European Sky Shield for Ukraine – our overview page regarding the plan.