The article says that a crowdfunding campaign in Slovakia aimed at purchasing artillery shells for Ukraine has exceeded its initial goal of €1 million in less than 48 hours. This initiative was launched in response to the Slovak government's refusal to participate in a Czech-led effort to procure large amounts of ammunition for Ukraine. According to what is written in the article, the Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has taken a stance against sending military aid, arguing that supplying Ukraine with weapons only prolongs the conflict. However, the campaign, running under the slogan "If The Government Won’t – We Will", has gained widespread support, raising over €2 million from more than 32,000 donors within a few days.
The article says that one of the key figures behind the campaign is Otto Simko, a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor and veteran of the 1944 Slovak National Uprising against the Nazis. Simko strongly opposes the idea of negotiating with Putin, drawing parallels to Neville Chamberlain's failed appeasement policy toward Hitler. He argues that allowing Russia to take Ukrainian territories in exchange for peace is an illusion, and he believes that failing to stop Putin now will have long-term consequences for Slovakia and the rest of the world.
"If we don't defeat Putin he will be a threat. Not for the two or three years that I have left on this Earth, but to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to Slovakia, and the whole world." – said Otto Simko
According to what is written in the article, the Czech government is playing a crucial role in coordinating the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine, acting as an intermediary between international donors and global arms suppliers. The initiative has received significant financial contributions from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, with the first shipments of ammunition expected to arrive in June. The article also notes that some of the shell suppliers may have ties to Moscow, but specific details remain unclear. Despite the Slovak government's opposition, the crowdfunding effort demonstrates strong public support for Ukraine among Slovaks who reject the official foreign policy stance of their government.
