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Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting troops (photo from October 2022)

Photo: Mikhael Klimentyev / Kremlin / Sputnik / AFP

»We call on world leaders to dramatically increase aid to Ukraine. Ukraine must win, not just “not lose.” Dozens of Nobel Prize winners are speaking out with an urgent appeal. In a letter obtained in advance by SPIEGEL, they called on the international community to take more decisive action against Russia.

The signatories are not only concerned with the fate of Ukraine. "Putin's regime has shown that it represents a clear and immediate threat to humanity," the letter says. The signatories currently include 39 Nobel Prize winners, including the writers Elfriede Jelinek and Herta Müller.

The signatories accuse many governments of underestimating the danger posed by Putin and instead relying on dangerous appeasement policies - similar to those at the beginning of Adolf Hitler's rule. Politicians and citizens around the world should “abandon any illusions about Mr. Putin and his criminal regime. History teaches us that appeasing an aggressor encourages further crimes against humanity. No temporary benefit can justify this. We are determined that Munich 1938 will not be repeated!”

In 1938, Great Britain, France and Italy agreed to the annexation of the Sudentenland by National Socialist Germany in the “Munich Agreement”. However, the hope of preventing the outbreak of a major war was not fulfilled. On the contrary: Nazi Germany attacked Poland as early as 1939 (you can find more background on the “appeasement policy” here).

The Nobel Prize winners formulate five points in their open letter:

  • Significant expansion of aid to Ukraine: “Timely assistance will reduce the loss of life and help drive the aggressor from Ukrainian soil.” This will also pave the way for changes within Russia: "Putin's defeat (..) will be seen by millions of Russians as a moral victory, strengthening their hope for a democratic future and mobilizing an anti-war movement."

  • Support for the beleaguered opposition within Russia: The lives of political prisoners such as Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Mursa and Lilia Chanysheva were in “imminent danger” after the murder of Alexei Navalny. The international community must therefore do everything to protect them (here you can find more information about Yashin, Kara-Mursa and Chanysheva)

  • Greater support for Russian citizens who have fled because of their political beliefs and need asylum abroad.

  • Expanding the help of Russian opposition organizations and independent Russian media, whose role is crucial in a possible “regime change”.

  • Refusal to recognize Putin's presidency: The world must send a clear message that Putin will no longer be viewed as a "partner."

    • The letter has now been published on the Internet.

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