From the first hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been subjected to a campaign of terror against civilians — homes destroyed, cities reduced to ruins, families torn apart. Children have been abducted, deported, and stripped of their identity. Thousands have been killed, many more wounded, displaced, or left to survive without heat, electricity, or safety.

This is not collateral damage. It is a deliberate strategy.

It is a war waged not only with missiles and drones, but with cruelty, intimidation, and the systematic targeting of human life and dignity. It is a war that seeks not only to occupy territory, but to erase a nation, and the very idea of existence of free and democratic Ukraine.

On 24 February 2026, four years after the launch of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, we reaffirm a clear and uncompromising position:

There is one victim — Ukraine — and an axis of aggressor states and authoritarian actors aligned against it.

This war of aggression is characterized by systematic and widespread violations of international law. Attacks on civilians, the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and the deliberate targeting of energy systems form part of a sustained strategy to break the resilience of the population. Among the gravest crimes is the ongoing, organized abduction and deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. The weaponization of essential conditions for survival — including energy and winter itself — underscores the intent to inflict suffering beyond the battlefield.

And this is not only a military operation. It is a systemic assault on democracy, international law, human dignity, and the attempt to distort history. Ukraine’s resistance is not only a defence of territory — it is a defence of the very foundations of the democratic world.

Four years on, the frontlines extend far beyond the battlefield. They run through information spaces, political systems, economies, and societies worldwide. This war is accompanied by a sustained campaign of disinformation and hybrid operations designed to distort reality, weaken democratic institutions, and erode public trust.

Propaganda, “both-sidesism,” and strategic ambiguity are not neutral positions — they are instruments that blur responsibility, normalize aggression, and undermine the ability of societies to distinguish truth from manipulation. Authoritarian narratives are increasingly amplified within democratic systems themselves, penetrating media ecosystems, political discourse, and public debate.

Hybrid threats — including cyber operations, economic coercion, political interference, and information warfare — are not peripheral to the conflict. They are central to it. Their objective is clear: to weaken democratic resilience from within, fracture alliances, and replace clarity with confusion.

In this context, silence, false balance, and fatigue do not represent restraint — they risk becoming forms of complicity.

We reject false equivalence and imposed “neutrality.” There can be no sustainable peace without justice, accountability, and the restoration of sovereignty.

We therefore call on governments, institutions, academia, civil society, and media to act with clarity, responsibility, and sustained commitment.

Ukraine is not only a victim of aggression — it is a mirror held up to the world. The question is no longer whether this war matters globally. The question is whether the world is prepared to assume responsibility for its consequences.

Neutrality in the face of aggression is not neutrality — it is alignment. Compromise with injustice is not pragmatism — it is surrender. A democracy that fails to defend itself ceases to exist.

To endorse this Declaration, please complete the designated FORM.

See: Programme | DDGI International Conference – Four Years of Aggression: Ukraine’s Resistance and the World’s Responsibility on 24 February 2026

Strategic Framework

This Declaration is accompanied by three strategic documents outlining key areas of responsibility and action:

• Security and Defence: Just Peace, Accountability, and Long-term Security Guarantees
• Culture: Renewal, Identity, and Resistance Against Erasure
• Reconstruction and Recovery: Rebuilding Society, Resilience, and Human Dignity

These documents form a coherent framework for coordinated, long-term engagement in defence of democratic values, grounded in the realities of Russia’s war of aggression and its global consequences.

They build upon the principles and strategic direction articulated in the Defending Democracy Global Initiative’s broader work, including its 2025 strategic roadmap, which emphasizes democratic resilience, resistance to hybrid threats, and the central role of civil society, independent media, and international cooperation in confronting authoritarianism.

This framework is not intended as a set of abstract recommendations, but as a call to action — linking policy, practice, and responsibility across sectors and borders.

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT I 

Security and Defence: Just Peace, Accountability, and Long-term Security Guarantees

Four years into Russia’s full-scale aggression, it is clear that security in Europe and beyond cannot be restored through compromise with aggression. Any notion of “peace” detached from justice risks legitimizing war crimes, territorial conquest, and future instability.

This war has exposed the limits of reactive security models and the dangers of strategic ambiguity. It has demonstrated that authoritarian aggression thrives where deterrence is weak, accountability is delayed, and political will is fragmented. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine is therefore not only a national necessity — it is a global security imperative.

Key Principles

Just peace, not imposed peace:
Peace must be based on Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law.

Accountability is non-negotiable:
War crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression must be prosecuted at international and national levels.

Security guarantees must be credible:
Ukraine’s long-term security requires binding, enforceable commitments — political, military, economic, and technological.

Deterrence against authoritarian expansion:
The war demonstrates the urgent need for strengthened collective defence and resilience against hybrid threats.

Strategic Priorities

1. Sustained military support to Ukraine

Sustained and predictable military support is essential to ensure Ukraine’s capacity to defend its territory, protect its population, and restore its sovereignty. This includes not only the provision of weapons and ammunition, but also long-term investments in defence capabilities, training, logistics, and technological innovation. Interruptions, delays, or conditionality weaken deterrence and prolong the war.

2. Strengthening European and transatlantic security architecture

The war has exposed structural vulnerabilities in Europe’s security framework. Strengthening collective defence requires deeper coordination between NATO and EU mechanisms, increased defence spending, and a shift from reactive to proactive security strategies. Ukraine must be integrated into long-term European security planning as a central pillar of stability, not treated as a temporary frontline. In doing so, Europe must establish a defence structure that is effective even without the involvement of the United States.

3. Countering hybrid warfare and strengthening democratic resilience

Hybrid warfare — including disinformation, cyber operations, political interference, and economic coercion — is a central dimension of this conflict. Countering it requires more than technical responses. It demands resilient societies, capable institutions, and a strong, independent media sector.

Democratic resilience must be understood as a security priority. This includes:

• supporting independent journalism and fact-based public discourse
• strengthening civil society organizations as watchdogs and defenders of democratic values
• investing in media literacy and public awareness
• building institutional capacity to detect and respond to hybrid threats

Without societal resilience, military security alone is insufficient.

4. Supporting international justice and accountability mechanisms

Accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression is essential to any just peace. International justice mechanisms — including international courts and specialized tribunals — must be fully supported politically, financially, and institutionally.

Justice is not only a moral imperative; it is a deterrence mechanism. Failure to ensure accountability risks normalizing impunity and encouraging future acts of aggression.

Conclusion

Security is not defined only by military strength, but by the resilience of democratic societies, the integrity of institutions, and the ability of citizens to resist manipulation and coercion.

A failure to secure a just peace in Ukraine will not end the war — it will extend it, normalize it, and globalize its consequences. It will signal that aggression can succeed, that accountability can be avoided, and that international law can be selectively applied.

A just peace, grounded in sovereignty and justice, is not only Ukraine’s right — it is a prerequisite for global stability.

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT II

Culture: Renewal, Identity, and Resistance Against Erasure

Russia’s war against Ukraine is not only a war of territory — it is a war against identity, memory, language, and cultural existence. Cultural destruction is not collateral damage; it is a deliberate and systematic strategy of domination aimed at erasing a nation’s past, distorting its present, and controlling its future.

At the same time, Ukrainian culture has emerged as a powerful force of resistance — preserving identity, sustaining morale, and affirming freedom under conditions of extreme violence. The defence of culture is therefore inseparable from the defence of democracy.

Key Principles

Culture as a pillar of resistance:
Ukrainian culture is central to resilience and national survival

Protection of cultural heritage:
Monuments, archives, museums, and cultural sites must be safeguarded, restored, and documented

Living culture matters most:
Artists, writers, journalists, educators, and cultural workers are essential to democratic resilience

Countering propaganda and cultural appropriation:
Cultural narratives must be protected from distortion, erasure, and their weaponization by authoritarian actors as tools of propaganda and domination

Strategic Priorities

1. Support for Ukrainian cultural institutions and independent cultural actors

Ukrainian cultural institutions and independent cultural actors operate under conditions of war, displacement, and targeted destruction. Sustained support is essential to ensure their continuity and independence. This includes financial assistance, institutional partnerships, mobility programmes, and protection mechanisms for artists, writers, journalists, and cultural workers at risk. Cultural actors are not peripheral — they are key defenders of identity, memory, and democratic values.

2. International cultural partnerships and platforms amplifying Ukrainian voices

Ukraine’s cultural presence must be actively supported and integrated into international platforms. Partnerships with cultural institutions, festivals, academic networks, and media platforms are essential to ensure visibility, exchange, and long-term collaboration. Amplifying Ukrainian voices counters attempts at erasure and marginalization, and strengthens global understanding of the war’s cultural and human dimensions.

3. Protection and digital preservation of cultural heritage

Cultural heritage in Ukraine is under direct threat — from destruction, looting, and deliberate targeting. Immediate and coordinated efforts are needed to protect physical sites, document damage, and secure archives. Digital preservation plays a critical role in safeguarding cultural memory, ensuring that even in conditions of loss, destruction cannot become erasure. This requires international cooperation, technological support, and long-term commitment.

4. Investment in cultural production, education, and independent media as tools of resilience

Cultural production, education, and independent media are essential instruments of resilience in times of war. Supporting literature, film, visual arts, journalism, and educational initiatives strengthens the capacity of society to interpret reality, resist propaganda, and sustain democratic discourse. Independent media, in particular, plays a dual role — as a cultural actor and as a frontline defence against disinformation and narrative manipulation.

Conclusion

Culture is not a secondary dimension of this war — it is one of its central battlegrounds. To defend culture is to defend identity, and to defend identity is to defend freedom.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, memory, and expression is an attack on a nation’s existence — its past, its present, and its future. Defending Ukrainian culture therefore means defending the right of a people to exist, to remember, and to shape their own destiny.

Cultural resilience is not separate from security — without it, no society can remain free.

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT III

Reconstruction and Recovery: Rebuilding Society, Resilience, and Human Dignity

Reconstruction is not only about rebuilding infrastructure — it is about rebuilding society. Ukraine’s recovery must address not only physical destruction, but also social cohesion, institutional trust, and the deep psychological trauma caused by war.

The scale of destruction demands an unprecedented effort. Yet reconstruction must not replicate pre-war vulnerabilities. It must create a stronger, more transparent, and more democratic society — capable not only of recovery, but of long-term resilience.

Key Principles

Human-centred recovery:
Reconstruction must prioritize people, dignity, and social wellbeing

Transparency and accountability:
Reconstruction must be protected from corruption, misuse, and political capture

Social and psychological recovery:
War trauma, displacement, and loss require sustained, long-term support

Inclusive and democratic rebuilding:
Local communities, civil society, and citizens must be central actors in the recovery process

Strategic Priorities

1. Rebuilding critical infrastructure (energy, housing, transport, healthcare, education)

The reconstruction of critical infrastructure is an urgent and foundational task. Energy systems, housing, transport networks, healthcare, and education must be rebuilt not only to restore functionality, but to ensure resilience against future threats. Reconstruction should prioritize sustainability, decentralization, and security — including protection against continued attacks and hybrid disruptions. Infrastructure is not only about recovery; it is about enabling stability, dignity, and long-term development. This is also the base for Ukrainian refugees to go back and support this process.

2. Long-term psychological and social support programmes

The human cost of the war extends far beyond physical destruction. Millions of people have experienced trauma, loss, displacement, and prolonged insecurity. Long-term psychological and social support must be an integral part of recovery strategies, including accessible mental health services, community-based support systems, and targeted programmes for children, survivors of violence, and vulnerable groups. Without addressing trauma, reconstruction risks leaving deep and lasting societal fractures.

3. Reintegration of veterans, displaced persons, and affected communities

The successful reintegration of veterans, internally displaced persons, and war-affected populations is essential for social cohesion and stability. This requires comprehensive policies that include access to employment, education, healthcare, housing, and social services. Reintegration must also address recognition, dignity, and inclusion — ensuring that those who have borne the cost of war are not marginalized in its aftermath.

4. Strengthening democratic institutions and local governance

Reconstruction must reinforce, not weaken, democratic governance. Strong, transparent, and accountable institutions are essential to prevent corruption, ensure equitable distribution of resources, and build public trust. Local governance plays a critical role in responding to community needs and must be empowered with resources, autonomy, and oversight mechanisms. Civil society must be actively involved as a partner and watchdog throughout the reconstruction process.

5. International partnerships ensuring sustainable and transparent reconstruction

Ukraine’s recovery requires sustained international cooperation based on transparency, accountability, and long-term commitment. Partnerships must go beyond financial assistance to include knowledge transfer, institutional support, and monitoring mechanisms that prevent misuse and political capture. Reconstruction must be coordinated, inclusive, and aligned with democratic principles — ensuring that support strengthens resilience rather than dependency.

Conclusion

Reconstruction is not only about rebuilding what was destroyed — it is about shaping a more resilient, just, and democratic future. The credibility of international solidarity will be measured not only by what is promised, but by what is delivered.

Reconstruction without justice and resilience risks rebuilding fragility. Recovery must not only restore what was destroyed — it must transform Ukraine into a stronger, more resilient, and more democratic society.

The success of Ukraine’s recovery will shape not only its future, but the credibility of democratic solidarity worldwide.

To endorse this Declaration, please complete the designated FORM.

Signatories and Endorsement

This Declaration is developed within the framework of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI), in collaboration with its founding members:

Roger Casale – Former Member of the UK Parliament, Director of the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U), and co-founder of DDGI, leading European advocacy and political mobilization in support of democracy and Ukraine.

Dr Wolfgang Ressmann – Media strategist (Germany), active within Media Dialogue and the New European People’s Forum (NEPF), advancing independent media, democratic innovation, and cross-border cooperation, and co-founder of DDGI.

Xhabir M. Deralla – Journalist and hybrid warfare analyst, President of CIVIL – Center for Freedom, and co-founder of DDGI, engaged in regional and international efforts to counter disinformation and strengthen democratic resilience.

The Declaration is coordinated by DDGI founding members in cooperation with WA4U partner organizations:

• CIVIL – Center for Freedom (North Macedonia)
• European Youth4Media Network / Media Dialogue (Germany)
• New European People’s Forum (Germany)
• Jean Monnet Association (France)
• Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy)

The Declaration is open for endorsement by individuals and organizations — including policymakers, parliamentarians, institutions, civil society, media, academia, and business leaders — committed to defending democratic values, truth, and accountability.

To endorse this Declaration, please complete the designated FORM.

Signatories are kindly invited to indicate the capacity in which they endorse the document (institutional and/or individual).

Endorsing this Declaration represents a commitment to action — in defence of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

For information and inquiries:
info@defendingdemocracy.global

Programme | DDGI International Conference – Four Years of Aggression: Ukraine’s Resistance and the World’s Responsibility on 24 February 2026